Velvet Opuntia, Wooly Joint Prickly Pear (Opuntia tomentosa)

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Kelli L.A. (Canoga Park), CA(Zone 10a) Jul 11, 2005

Velvet Opuntia, Wooly Joint Prickly Pear
Opuntia tomentosa

Velvety pads

Thumbnail by Kelli
Post #1617439
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Xenomorf Phoenix, AZ(Zone 9b) Jul 12, 2005

Kelli,
I have this plant also, but..
Your photo is a picture of Velvet Opuntia (Opuntia tomentosa).
http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/63697/index.html
The pads match the shape and they have a velvety feel to them, and practically no spines.

Opuntia pubescens should look like this
http://www.desert-tropicals.com/Plants/Cactaceae/Opuntia_pubescens.html

I'm also looking at the photo in "The Cactus Family" book, of Opuntia pubescens, which does not look like your photo.

Post #1618432
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Kelli L.A. (Canoga Park), CA(Zone 10a) Jul 12, 2005

True that it does look more like O. tomentosa, but it was labled as O. pubescens by the Los Angeles Arboretum. That's where the picture was taken.

Post #1618743
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Kelli L.A. (Canoga Park), CA(Zone 10a) Jul 12, 2005

Here's a picture of the whole plant. It's not that great of a picture, but maybe it will be helpful.

Thumbnail by Kelli
Post #1618827
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Xenomorf Phoenix, AZ(Zone 9b) Jul 12, 2005

There are photos of both O. pubescens & O. tomentosa in "The Cactus Family" book. The tubercles, pad shape and plant height all match the photo of O. tomentosa in my book. The photo in the book of O. pubescens looks nothing like your photos because the stem segments of O. pubescens are lighter green, and they are cylindrical (not flattened and oblong).
O. pubescens only grows to 31 inches high, the one in your pict looks to be far past that height.

heres a photo of tomentosa,
http://www.desert-tropicals.com/Plants/Cactaceae/Opuntia_tomentosa.html

As far as the label goes, well I seen some plants in other Botanical Gardens and places that have accidentaly been labeled wrong also.

I've also attached a photo of my tomentosa.

Thumbnail by Xenomorf
Post #1619134
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Kelli L.A. (Canoga Park), CA(Zone 10a) Oct 03, 2005

I am having this picture moved to Opuntia tomentosa. Sorry to take so long to act on that. I have no excuse, just slacking off.

Post #1795432
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