Small, Journal of the New York Botanical Garden 20: 35, 1919
Original Description
What is Opuntia zebrina?
Opuntia zebrina is a medium-sized prickly pear cactus of the Florida Keys. It is named “zebrina” because it has spines that are banded yellow (tan) and dark brown.
Majure, L. C. (2010) Towards an evolutionary understanding of the Opuntia humifusa complex of North America. Cactus and Succulent Journal, 82:156.
Details
O. zebrina grows to 1 m tall or less. Cladodes are oval or obovate and 10 to 20 cm long. Lower areoles have no spines and upper areoles are irregularly spined.
Flowers are few and yellow, solitary. The fruit is obovoid and may or may not be constricted at the base. Fruit is about 4 cm long. Seeds are 6-7 cm in diameter.
Ploidy is unknown.
Other Notes
O. zebrina has some similarities with O. dillenii, but the plants are smaller and more cold sensitive. Also, the banded spines are unique to O. zebrina, whereas O. dillenii spines are generally solid yellow. Additionally, O. zebrina often has fewer spines than O. dillenii, sometimes having only 1 at surface areoles and 2-3 on edges (see herbarium sample above). Perhaps O. zebrina is merely a variant of O. dillenii. However, some botanists consider them to be the same taxon. See the reference above.
Like many plants of the Florida Keys, O. zebrina is threatened by habitat loss.
Opuntia zebrina, bands showing on spine
Opuntia zebrina, cladodes
Opuntia zebrina, flower
Opuntia zebrina, flower
Opuntia zebrina, flower
Opuntia zebrina, flower buds
Opuntia zebrina, flower buds
Opuntia zebrina, fruit
Opuntia zebrina, fruit
Opuntia zebrina, fruit
Opuntia zebrina, fruit
Opuntia zebrine, in habitat
Opuntia zebrina, in habitat
Opuntia zebrina, in habitat
Opuntia zebrina, in habitat
Opuntia zebrina, in habitat
Opuntia zebrina, in habitat
Opuntia zebrina, in habitat
Opuntia zebrina, in habitat, fruit
Opuntia zebrina, in habitat, young cladode
Opuntia zebrina, new cladode with leaves
Opuntia zebrina, seedling
Opuntia zebrina, seedling