Opuntia alta

Opuntia alta
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Order:	Caryophyllales
Family:	Cactaceae
Genus:	Opuntia
Species:	O. alta
Binomial name
	Opuntia alta; Griffiths

Opuntia alta is a cactus species in the genus Opuntia. It is a large plant, with some older specimens forming trees to 4.6 metres (15 ft) tall.^[1]

Identification[]

It resembles Opuntia lindheimeri, and immature specimens can be mistaken for that taxon.^[2] Mature O. alta plants form discrete trunks and have small fruits. Unlike O. lindheimeri, the flowers have pale stigmas.

Opuntia alta is probably closely related to Opuntia cacanapa, which grows further inland.

Gallery[]

Opuntia alta, South Texas Plains

References[]

^ "Opuntia alta". Opuntiads.
^ Griffiths, David (1910). "Illustrated studies in the genus Opuntia III" (PDF). Annual Report of the Missouri Botanical Garden. 21: 165–166. doi:10.2307/2400129. JSTOR 2400129. Retrieved 23 June 2017.

External links[]

Opuntia alta photo gallery at Opuntia Web, opuntiads.com

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[1] "Opuntia alta". Opuntiads.

[2] Griffiths, David (1910). "Illustrated studies in the genus Opuntia III" (PDF). Annual Report of the Missouri Botanical Garden. 21: 165–166. doi:10.2307/2400129. JSTOR 2400129. Retrieved 23 June 2017.

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