Opuntia robusta

Opuntia robusta
Opuntia robusta growth form.
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Order:	Caryophyllales
Family:	Cactaceae
Genus:	Opuntia
Species:	O. robusta
Binomial name
Opuntia robusta J.C.Wendl. ex Pfeiff.

Opuntia robusta, the wheel cactus, nopal tapon, or camuesa, is a species of cactus in the Cactaceae family. It is native and endemic to Mexico, North America.

Plants are commonly around 1 metre high, though they may grow to over 3 metres-9 feet high when supported.

The flattened stem segments are fleshy, round and blue-grey in colour. These are up to 30 cm in diameter and have sharp spines up to 5 cm in length. Yellow, sessile flowers with a fleshy base are produced on the edges of the upper stem segments. These are followed by barrel-shaped fleshy fruits which are pink or purple and up to 8 cm long.

The species was first formally described in 1837 in Enumeratio Diagnostica Cactearum hucusque Cognitarum. It has naturalised in the states of South Australia, New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria in Australia.

Opuntia robusta flower.

Opuntia robusta stem segment and immature fruit.

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Wikipedia