Opuntia dillenii (Ker Gawl.) Haw.
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Authority
Acevedo-Rodríguez, Pedro & collaborators. 1996. Flora of St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 78: 1-581.
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Family
Cactaceae
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Scientific Name
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Description
Species Description - Erect or spreading shrub, to 3 m tall, with numerous lateral branches; basal stem nearly cylindrical, lateral branches flattened, grayish. Joints obovate, rounded or oblanceolate, 7-36 cm long; areoles 4-5 cm apart, with grayish, woolly fibers, brown glochids and clusters of 3-7 spines, the spines awl-shaped, slightly flattened, straight or slightly curved, yellow to yellowish brown, 3- 6 cm long. Rowers 5-7 cm long; receptacle conical. Outer perianth segments narrower, greenish; inner segments yellow, obovate, obtuse; stamens shorter than petals, light yellow; style stout, whitish, the stigmas fingerlike. Fruit reddish, 4-7 cm long, pearshaped, with persistent glochids. Seeds kidney-shaped, yellowish brown, 4-5 mm wide.
Distribution and Ecology - One of the most commonest Opuntia species in dry coastal scrub vegetation. Hurricane Hole (A2831). Also on Anegada, St. Croix, St. Thomas, Tortola, and Virgin Gorda; native to southeastern United States to eastern Mexico, and the West Indies, introduced in northern South America.
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Discussion
Opuntia horrida Salm-Dyck ex DC, Prodr. 3: 472. 1828.
Opuntia tuna sensu Eggers, Fl. St. Croix 58. 1879, non (L.)MilL, 1768.
Common names: bull sucker, miss blyden, prickly pear.