Devil's-tongue facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Devil's-tongue
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Order:	Caryophyllales
Family:	Cactaceae
Genus:	Opuntia
Species:	O. ammophila
Binomial name
Opuntia ammophila Small
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Opuntia ammophila, also known as the devil's-tongue, is a type of prickly pear cactus. You can find it growing in Florida. These cacti usually grow alone. They don't often form big, dense groups.

For a long time, people thought O. ammophila was just a different kind of O. humifusa. But scientists now know it's its own unique species. One way to tell them apart is by their pads, called cladodes. O. ammophila has gray-green pads, while O. humifusa has green ones.

What it Looks Like

Long ago, Opuntia ammophila could grow as tall as a person! Some plants even had thick trunks. But today, it's rare to find one that's even 1 meter (about 3 feet) tall. Even smaller plants will have a single main stem or trunk.

The flowers of this cactus are quite special. Their buds have petals that curve backward. When the flowers open, they are a light yellow color. The center part, called the stigma, is cream-colored. You won't see this plant very often in central Florida.

Images for kids

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  Amorphophallus konjac in bloom

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  Amorphophallus konjac male (top) and female (bottom) flowers

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  Japanese konjac gel, with hijiki seaweed mixed in

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  Konjac corm used for preparing food

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  Sashimi konnyaku, usually served with a miso-based dipping sauce rather than soy sauce

See also

In Spanish: Konnyaku para niños