Opuntia caracassana facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Opuntia caracassana |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Opuntia
|
| Species: |
caracassana
|
Opuntia caracassana is a type of plant that belongs to the Opuntia family, also known as prickly pear cacti. A scientist named Joseph zu Salm-Reifferscheidt-Dyck first described this plant in 1850.
Contents
What Does Opuntia caracassana Look Like?
Opuntia caracassana is a cactus that usually grows up to 1 meter (about 3 feet) tall. It has bright yellow flowers and small, red fruits.
Young Plants
Young Opuntia caracassana plants have flat, oval or round stems called cladodes. These cladodes are about 5 to 12 centimeters (2 to 5 inches) long and up to 6 centimeters (2.4 inches) wide. They are a clear green color.
The spines on young plants are thin and white with a yellow base. Their tips can be dark or completely yellow. These spines are usually 1 to 4 centimeters (0.4 to 1.6 inches) long and spread out. Young plants can also have one or two smaller spines, called radial spines, that are 1 to 1.5 centimeters (0.4 to 0.6 inches) long.
Adult Plants
As Opuntia caracassana grows, its cladodes become larger. Adult cladodes can be up to 15 to 17 centimeters (6 to 6.7 inches) long and 10 to 12 centimeters (4 to 4.7 inches) wide.
Adult plants have one or two main spines, called central spines. These are white with a brown tip and are 2.5 to 5.5 centimeters (1 to 2.2 inches) long. They also spread out and have a white tip. There are also one to three smaller radial spines, which are 0.5 to 3.5 centimeters (0.2 to 1.4 inches) long. The longest spines on adult plants sometimes twist.
Areoles: Where Spines Grow
The spots where spines grow on the cactus are called areoles. On Opuntia caracassana, these areoles are white and round. They are about 3 to 4 millimeters wide and 2 to 3 millimeters high. Sometimes, the tiny barbed bristles called glochids in the areoles are hard to see.
Bright Yellow Flowers
The flowers of Opuntia caracassana are about 4.8 to 5 centimeters (1.9 to 2 inches) long. The part of the flower that looks like petals, called the perianth, is about 2.5 to 3 centimeters (1 to 1.2 inches) across. The base of the flower, called the hypanthium, is about 3 centimeters (1.2 inches) long.
Small Red Fruits
After the flowers bloom, Opuntia caracassana produces small, red fruits.
Where Does Opuntia caracassana Live?
Opuntia caracassana is found in warm, tropical areas. It grows in the neotropical regions of northern South America and the Caribbean. This cactus has been seen in countries like Aruba, Colombia, Curaçao, and the Dutch Caribbean. People involved in citizen science projects have also reported finding it in Costa Rica and Venezuela.
Other Names for Opuntia caracassana
Sometimes, Opuntia caracassana is known by other scientific names, which are called synonyms. These include:
- Opuntia pennellii
- Opuntia salvadorensis
- Opuntia wentiana
See also
In Spanish: Nopal paraguanero para niños
