Opuntia cochenillifera

Opuntia cochenillifera is a species of cactus in the subfamily Opuntioideae. It may have been endemic to Mexico, but has been widely introduced.[1] The first description was in 1753 by Carl Linnaeus as Cactus cochenillifer. Philip Miller renamed it as Opuntia cochenillifera in 1768.

Opuntia cochenillifera
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Cactaceae
Genus: Opuntia
Species:
O. cochenillifera
Binomial name
Opuntia cochenillifera
(L.) Mill., 1768
Synonyms
Opuntia nuda
Nopalea nuda
Nopalea cochenillifera
Cactus cochenilliferus
Cactus cochenillifera
Cactus cochenilifer

Ecology

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Unlike most Opuntia species, O. cochenillifera is pollinated by hummingbirds.[2][3]

 
Flower

References

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  1. ^ a b Arreola, H.; Ishiki, M.; Terrazas, T. (2017) [amended version of 2013 assessment]. "Nopalea cochenillifera". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017: e.T152027A121518289. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T152027A121518289.en. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
  2. ^ J.A. Reyes-Agüero, J.R. Aguirre R., A. Valiente-Banuet (2006) Reproductive biology of Opuntia: A review. Journal of Arid Environments 64(4):549-585. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaridenv.2005.06.018
  3. ^ Flora of the Southeastern United States
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