Is this opuntia sp. ?

[wikicactus]

hi , whats this ?





tnx

[bluetexasbonnie]

A chollo of some type, which is apparently now put in the cylindropuntia genus. Perhaps Cylindropuntia leptocaulis. I found it (or at least very close cousin) listed as Opuntia leptocaulis on the Texas A&M University site. (Note: They are generally viewed as The Authority on plants in this area. Not that I always agree. )

I was just in the process of writing a humorous story about this plant. I have been doing some searches to figure out what it was. They look pretty close to the same to me.

P1150198-small.jpg (130.9 KiB) Viewed 1049 times

[CactusFanDan]

Probably C. leptocaulis, but it could also be Opuntia salmiana. You need flowers to be sure.

[Justin]

Not Cylindropuntia leptocaulis.
Joints of Cylindropuntia leptocaulis are slender and usually from an old joint grow many other short joints. Especially in the upper part of old joints. From fruits can also grow many short joints. (Frequently the new joints are easily detached from the plant. Depend of season and humidity / hydration conditions).
So the plant appears crowded with many short joints. Normally old joints become woody. A typical plant here:
http://i0.wp.com/opuntiads.com/O/wp-con ... s-lg1d.jpg


In some cases, in very optimal growth season, may grow long joints like here
http://i1.wp.com/opuntiads.com/O/wp-con ... s-pace.jpg
But, I suppose, from these joints will start numerous other joints. And especially these long joints will become sooner woody. (To be sure about development, I need more observations of the growth of plants)

---

Yes, Bluetexasbonnie, your plant it is Cylindropuntia leptocaulis. I know Cylindropuntia leptocaulis because arises spontaneously in my area. But not frequently. And, it is the only native Cylindropuntia in the area. (However, in some situations from photos I have difficulties to delimit Cylindropuntia leptocaulis and Cylindropuntia kleiniae. )
On internet, an extremely valuable resource for the study of Opuntia is 'Opuntia Web' site. The page for Cylindropuntia leptocaulis, here:
http://opuntiads.com/O/cylindropuntia-2 ... ptocaulis/

---

I know Opuntia salmiana only a little from what I read on internet. I think Opuntia salmiana is a prime candidate among hypothetical identifications. But an identification does not have to be based on recognition of the plant but especially on a process of elimination of possible hypotheses until only one option remains. Elimination that are based on the plant features.
But it is very hard to think of a possible Opuntia, in the case of Opuntia salmiana! So different from a generic image of a plant of the today typically meaning of genus Opuntia! (Typically, today, I suppose many of us, we think to Opuntia in terms of Platyopuntia - flattened-jointed like a key to delimit of cylindrical-stemmed Cylindropuntia.)

[wikicactus]

thanks all for your reply