Opuntia elatior Mill. APNI* 
Description: Densely branched plant often to 4 m high. Segments obovate, compressed, mostly 10–20 cm long, sometimes to 40 cm, bright green, not glaucous. Leaves to 4 mm long, red-tipped. Spines 2–8, terete, mostly 2–4 cm long, sometimes to 7 cm, dark brown with age.
Flowers 3–5 cm diam., perianth yellow; anther filaments pink.
Fruit obovoid, truncate when mature, reddish.
Distribution and occurrence: Naturalized in isolated areas but not widespread. Native of S Amer.
NSW subdivisions: *NC, *CC, *SC, *CWS, *NFWP
Other Australian states: *Qld *S.A.
Text by G. J. Harden
Taxon concept: Flora of NSW 1 (1990)
APNI* Provides a link to the Australian Plant Name Index (hosted by the Australian National Botanic Gardens) for comprehensive bibliographic data
***The AVH map option provides a detailed interactive Australia wide distribution map drawn from collections held by all major Australian herbaria participating in the Australian Virtual Herbarium project.
|
