Opuntia charlestonensis — *Opuntia* *charlestonensis*

Clokey, Madrono 7(3): 71, 1943

Isotype; Isotype; Isotype; Herbarium; Herbarium; Herbarium; Herbarium; Herbarium

Original Description

What is Opuntia charlestonensis?

Opuntia charlestonensis is a prickly pear cactus that occurs from about 6,000 to 8,000 ft in Kyle Canyon on Mt Charleston, Nevada. It is proposed to be a hybrid taxon derived from two species, O. phaeacantha and O. polyacantha erinacea.

Details

Plants may be 20 to 40 cm tall and up to 1.5 m across. They are generally prostrate, but a pad or two may arise from the main branches. Cladodes are oval or obovate and 10-20 cm long and 7-14 cm wide. Cladodes may be strongly purple in the winter and spring. Spines (4-6) are light in color and spreading in all directions.

O. charlestonensis has yellow flowers that darken late on the day of anthesis; there may be a blush of red in the flower centers. Flowers are 4-5 cm across. Stamens and anthers are yellow as is the style and stigma. However, the style may be tinged with red. Fruit is oval and dull reddish-purple with a green pulp. Seeds are flat and 4-5 mm in diameter.

O. charlestonensis is pentaploid.

Other Notes

O. charlestonensis is sympatric with the two proposed parental Opuntia species, but O. dulcis also grows in Kyle canyon. O. dulcis is often misinterpreted as O. phaeacantha and O. dulcis has not been investigated as a possible parent.