Below is detailed description of Opuntia ellisiana
Family: Cactaseae
Scientific Name: Opuntia ellisiana Griffiths
Synonym(s): Opuntia lindheimeri
Engelmann var. ellisiana (Griffiths) K. Hammer; Opuntia ×ellisiana
Common Name(s):
: prickly
pear
USDA Zone 7a: to -17.7 °C (0 °F)
USDA Zone 10b: to 1.7 °C (35 °F)
Habitat: Texas
Description:
Grows to 6'h x 6'w Shrubs,
low, spreading, to 2 m. Stem segments strongly inter-connected,
blue-green, flattened, ovate or circular, 15-25 × 10-20 cm, glaucous, low tuberculous, glabrous; areoles 5-7
per diagonal row across middle stem segment, often fan-shaped with small
circular extensions at base, 2.5-5(-10) mm diameter., base surrounded by
glabrous yellow lip; wool white, aging blackish.
Spines: absent or vestigial,
yellow. Glochids few, scattered, poorly developed, yellow, aging gray to
blackish, to 1.5 mm, covered by white, cottony wool.
Flowers: inner
tepals brilliant yellow throughout, fading orange to red, 25-30 mm; filaments white to green; anthers yellow; style
white; stigma lobes bright light green. Bloom
Color: Red , Pink , Orange , Yellow; Bloom
Time: May , Jun
Fruits: pink-
to red-purple with red pulp, pyriform, 30 × 25 mm, fleshy, glabrous, spineless; areoles 18-25, usually
crowded near apex, long, white woolly.
Flowering spring (May-Jun). Cultivation;
introduced; Ariz., Tex.; Mexico.
Seeds: tan,
subcircular, 2 mm diam.; girdle broad, projecting 0.5 mm. 2n = 22.
Sun Exposure: Sun, Part Shade
Water Needs: heat and drought-tolerant
Cultivation: Ideal for Potting
Soil pH requirements: 6.1 to 6.5 (mildly acidic)
6.6 to 7.5 (neutral)
7.6 to 7.8 (mildly alkaline)
Min Temperature: Zone:
7-10, possibly colder
Propagation Methods: Propagation Material: Seeds , Softwood Cuttings , Semi-hardwood Cuttings. Allow cut surface to callous over before
planting.
Seed Collection: Allow
fruit to ripen then clean and dry seeds.
Seed Treatment: Seed
can be stored after cleaning.
Commercially Avail: yes
Other: Opuntia
ellisiana is only known from
cultivation in the United States; the type is from a cultivated plant growing in Corpus Christi, Texas.
The spineless prickly pear is a great
addition to the landscape for those seeking a cactus form, showy blooms and
bright red fruits (tunas). Beware, although it doesn’t have long sharp spines,
the tiny glochids (slivers) are very irritating to the skin if the plant is not
handled correctly. Grab the pads between the glochid dots.
texas comments:
Spineless prickly pear is a great addition to the landscape for those seeking a
cactus form, showy blooms and bright red fruits. Beware, although it doesn’t
have long sharp spines, the tiny glochids are very irritating to the skin if
the plant is not handled correctly. Grab the pads between the glochid dots.
Opuntia ellisiana has been confused with O. ficus-indica; their
fruits are readily separable in the number and distribution of areoles and
fruit size.
