Family: Cactaceae
Opuntia microdasys
Citation:
Pfeiffer, Enum. Cact. 154 (1837).
Synonymy: Cactus microdasys Lehm., Ind. Sem. Hamburg. 1827:16 (1827).
Common name: Rabbit ears, bunny-ears.
Description:
Shrub to 1 m high; joints flattened, orbicular to oblong, velvety-pubescent, yellowish-green, 7-15 cm long; areoles close-set, with many yellow glochids arranged in conspicuous tufts, occasionally with a short yellow spine; leaves deciduous.
Flowers yellow or tinged red, 4-5 cm across.
Fruits subglobose, red.
| Opuntia microdasys
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Image source: fig. 189d in Jessop J.P. & Toelken H.R. (Ed.) 1986. Flora of South Australia (4th edn).
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Published illustration:
Graf (1963) Exotica 3:479, 482.
Distribution:
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S.Aust.: FR, EP, NL, MU. Native to Texas, U.S.A. There are forms with paler glochids, even white.
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Conservation status:
naturalised
Flowering time: late spring — summer.
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SA Distribution Map based
on current data relating to
specimens held in the
State Herbarium of South Australia
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Biology:
No text
Author:
Not yet available
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