A hairy appearing Opuntia

If you have a cactus plant and need help identifying it, this is the place to post it.
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Harrison
Posts: 32
Joined: Tue Nov 07, 2017 2:47 am
Location: Tracy, CA Zone 9b

A hairy appearing Opuntia

Post by Harrison »

Doesn't look like the "Snow Prickly Pear" I've seen recently, the spines eventually grow into a big mat that looks more gray with age. Any idea what kind it might be?
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Harrison
Posts: 32
Joined: Tue Nov 07, 2017 2:47 am
Location: Tracy, CA Zone 9b

Re: A hairy appearing Opuntia

Post by Harrison »

I think I found the type on Opuntiads.com. I think it looks most like the Opuntia diploursina, just in case anyone else has one like this and might be wondering!
DaveW
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Joined: Thu Dec 20, 2012 2:36 pm
Location: Nottingham, England/UK

Re: A hairy appearing Opuntia

Post by DaveW »

Possibly the one they used to call "The Grizzly Bear Cactus" Harrison, originally called Opuntia ursina (ursine means like a bear). However it keeps being moved around and is usually lumped under Opuntia erinacea or polyacantha as either a variety or sometimes just a form these days

http://www.americansouthwest.net/plants ... nacea.html

Evidently spine length varies, but mine has spines like this:-

https://cactiguide.com/graphics/o_polyacantha_600.jpg

Whether Opuntia diploursina is the same (as it has ursina in the name + diploid) I do not know since you evidently need to be a chemist to find out if the plant is diploid or tetraploid.

https://www.opuntiads.com/opuntia-diploursina/

https://www.cactiguide.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=33578
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Harrison
Posts: 32
Joined: Tue Nov 07, 2017 2:47 am
Location: Tracy, CA Zone 9b

Re: A hairy appearing Opuntia

Post by Harrison »

Good information, I feel like mine may need some trimming and may have outgrown it's pot. Looks like it can be an attractive plant...
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