Opuntia setispina facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Opuntia setispina
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Order:	Caryophyllales
Family:	Cactaceae
Genus:	Opuntia
Species:	O. setispina
Binomial name
Opuntia setispina Engelm.
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Opuntia setispina is a special kind of cactus that grows in Mexico. You can find it in the Sierra Madre Occidental mountains, especially in areas like Chihuahua, Sonora, and Durango. This cactus is often mistaken for other types of cacti, but it's actually quite unique! It grows like a woody bush or even a small tree, reaching about 1 meter (about 3 feet) tall and wide. It looks a bit like other cacti such as Opuntia chlorotica and Opuntia gosseliniana.

What Does Opuntia setispina Look Like?

This cactus usually has one main stem, but sometimes it has a few. These stems grow upwards and are made of rounded, bluish-green or grayish-green pads. These pads are called cladodes (say: CLAD-odes), and they can grow up to 20 centimeters (about 8 inches) long.

Younger pads have short, thin spines. There can be anywhere from 0 to 6 spines on each areole (say: AIR-ee-ohl). An areole is a small, cushion-like spot on a cactus where spines, glochids, and flowers grow. These spines are usually white and less than 2.5 centimeters (about 1 inch) long.

The cactus also has tiny, barbed bristles called glochids (say: GLO-kids). These glochids grow in tight white or yellowish clumps. On older stems, both the glochids and spines tend to grow longer and become more numerous, sometimes covering the trunk very thickly.

The flowers of Opuntia setispina are a bright, rich yellow color. When the cactus produces fruit, they are round or oval-shaped. They turn pinkish to red when they are ripe. These fruits are about 3 centimeters (about 1.2 inches) long, juicy, and can be eaten. However, they are not usually considered very tasty.

Where Does Opuntia setispina Grow?

This cactus is found in western Chihuahua, western Durango, and eastern Sonora in Mexico. It might also grow in Zacatecas and Sinaloa.

How Is Opuntia setispina Related to Other Cacti?

Opuntia setispina belongs to the Opuntia genus, which includes many types of prickly pear cacti. It looks very similar to Opuntia chlorotica, Opuntia santa-rita, and Opuntia gosseliniana. Scientists have noticed that where the areas these cacti grow meet, they sometimes mix together. This means they might be very closely related, or even the same species. More research is needed to understand these relationships better, as there are not many studies about Opuntia setispina right now.