I found this Opuntia on an edge of a rural road of Jackson County.
It looks very different than others Opuntia plants that I seen in the wild.
I am not sure if it is native or not in the area. Until now it is the only Opuntia of this type that I have seen in the area.
It a fact it is not only one plant. It is like a small thicket of few plant, that have grown from the one mother plant. Maximum height is around 7 feet. Maybe more.
Pictures taken at June 16, 2013
I will continue the topic with some photos of detail and flower.
Opuntia in the wild - Jackson co, Tx (J1)
Re: Opuntia in the wild - Jackson co, Tx (J1)
rarely inside the pad
Areoles small. Glochides small.
Re: Opuntia in the wild - Jackson co, Tx (J1)
I was lucky to find a late flower.
Flower is yellow.
The difference in tone between the first two pictures and the next three, is because we used two rooms and settings were different.
The sun was so strong that after a while the camera overheat and need to change.
If I were to appreciate, first photo give, the better the color tone.
For the third and fourth photo I set a shorter exposure time. This to try to get more details. But it's difficult. In the South the sun is so strong that it is difficult to see the image on camera screen. On the other hand, due to perspiration, prolonged use of viewfinder is difficult, too.
Flower is yellow.
The difference in tone between the first two pictures and the next three, is because we used two rooms and settings were different.
The sun was so strong that after a while the camera overheat and need to change.
If I were to appreciate, first photo give, the better the color tone.
For the third and fourth photo I set a shorter exposure time. This to try to get more details. But it's difficult. In the South the sun is so strong that it is difficult to see the image on camera screen. On the other hand, due to perspiration, prolonged use of viewfinder is difficult, too.
Re: Opuntia in the wild - Jackson co, Tx (J1)
Many unripe fruits.
Re: Opuntia in the wild - Jackson co, Tx (J1)
Some curiosities.
A few glochides on a pad. Probably was injured when a branch was broken. I don't know the cause. Can be the wind, too much water after a rain or other cause.
On one pad edge I noticed some strange growths. They remind me of some galls of insects. But actually I do not know what it could be. The pad was not easily accessible to can be examine more closely.
Generally the plants were very healthy. I just noticed very few pads that had traces of insects that suck sap. I have not noticed such bugs but that does not mean they were not. In general they tend to hide when someone is approaching. However, if they were there were not many.
Instead I noticed many spiders on the plant. Many jumping spider. Few crab spider, green lynx spider and few orb spiders.
In general, I noticed that the association of spiders, especially jumping spiders with Opuntia plants is very beneficial for the plants. Where there are many spiders, the plants are healthier.
Few pictures
Black and yellow garden spider, (Argiope aurantia). Another common name is writing spider, due to the characteristic zig-zag on web for Argiope genus.
Green lynx spider (Peucetia viridans)
Not only many Jumping spider, but many species of Jumping spider. I was not able to photograph all the species of Jumping spider on this opuntia.
I photographed a few on weed that grew among cladodes of Opuntia.
And one in action on a cladode
A few glochides on a pad. Probably was injured when a branch was broken. I don't know the cause. Can be the wind, too much water after a rain or other cause.
On one pad edge I noticed some strange growths. They remind me of some galls of insects. But actually I do not know what it could be. The pad was not easily accessible to can be examine more closely.
Generally the plants were very healthy. I just noticed very few pads that had traces of insects that suck sap. I have not noticed such bugs but that does not mean they were not. In general they tend to hide when someone is approaching. However, if they were there were not many.
Instead I noticed many spiders on the plant. Many jumping spider. Few crab spider, green lynx spider and few orb spiders.
In general, I noticed that the association of spiders, especially jumping spiders with Opuntia plants is very beneficial for the plants. Where there are many spiders, the plants are healthier.
Few pictures
Black and yellow garden spider, (Argiope aurantia). Another common name is writing spider, due to the characteristic zig-zag on web for Argiope genus.
Green lynx spider (Peucetia viridans)
Not only many Jumping spider, but many species of Jumping spider. I was not able to photograph all the species of Jumping spider on this opuntia.
I photographed a few on weed that grew among cladodes of Opuntia.
And one in action on a cladode
Re: Opuntia in the wild - Jackson co, Tx (J1)
The Opuntia plants, that I saw in the area, until now, are much less taller and they are different. I suppose it would not be an Opuntia native in that area, but I'm not sure of this.
Unfortunately my ability to identify species of Opuntia is reduced to a few species. I don't know what species it is.
Unfortunately my ability to identify species of Opuntia is reduced to a few species. I don't know what species it is.
Re: Opuntia in the wild - Jackson co, Tx (J1)
I would guess Opuntia stricta. Not sure if it is native to that area or not.
peterb
peterb
Zone 9