Opuntia cochenillifera (L.) Mill.

  • Authority

    Acevedo-Rodríguez, Pedro & collaborators. 1996. Flora of St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 78: 1-581.

  • Family

    Cactaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Opuntia cochenillifera (L.) Mill.

  • Description

    Species Description - Erect shrub to 4 m tall, with a short cylindrical trunk and many lateral, oblong, fattened branches, to 50 cm long, with lateral joints. Joints obovate, 10-30 cm long; areoles 1.5-3.5 cm apart, with whitish, minute woolly fibers and deciduous, yellow glochids; spines usually lacking. Flowers 5-7 cm long. Perianth red or crimson, erect, broad, obtuse; stamens exserted, the filaments bright pink, the anthers light yellow; style light yellow, longer than the stamens, the stigmas erect, filiform, yellow. Fruit red, to 5 cm long, pear-shaped, with persistent glochids. Seeds kidneyshaped, 5 mm wide.

  • Discussion

    Common name: French prickly pear.

  • Distribution

    Uncommon in dry coastal scrub, persistent after cultivation. Lameshur (A4145). Also on St. Croix. St. Thomas, Tortola, and Virgin Gorda; possibly native to Jamaica, now widespread in tropical areas through cultivation.

    Saint John Virgin Islands of the United States South America| Jamaica South America| Virgin Gorda Virgin Islands South America| Tortola Virgin Islands South America| Saint Thomas Virgin Islands of the United States South America| Saint Croix Virgin Islands of the United States South America|