Tuna Prickley Pear (Opuntia quitensis)

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palmbob Acton, CA(Zone 8b) Apr 06, 2004

Tuna Prickley Pear
Opuntia quitensis

growing in Huntington Gardens, Pasadena California zone 9b (almost a 10a)

Post #831781

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Xenomorf Phoenix, AZ(Zone 9b) Jan 08, 2005

According to the book 'The Cactus Family, Anderson 2001', these photos are not of O. quitensis.
It does not match the detailed description, and looks nothing like the photo in the book.
The description states that the pads are obovate to nearly round & Flattened. Dimensions are 2.5 to 16 inches long and 2 to 5 inches wide. The flowers are supposed to be an orangeish-red to an orangeish-yellow. (bright peach or pale orange color).

Post #1227158

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palmbob Acton, CA(Zone 8b) Jan 08, 2005

figures.. wonder if anything at the Huntington is labeled properly..

Post #1228133

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Xenomorf Phoenix, AZ(Zone 9b) Jan 08, 2005

Oh, I'm sure most are labeled properly..... It's just one of those things.......Even I have some here that 'I thought' at the
time.........

This message was edited Jan 8, 2005 2:33 PM

Post #1228252

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Xenomorf Phoenix, AZ(Zone 9b) Nov 17, 2005

palmbob,
I ran across some other documention of Opuntia quitensis under the synonym of O. johnsonii, and there seems to be the one identifying characteristic of this species, and that is, the flower blooms embedded in the end tip of the pad. So, I would have to say that the photo in my other book is in error. I will add the O. johnsonii synonym to this entry page.

Post #1880703

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