Opuntia ammophila, the devil's-tongue,[2] is a species of prickly pear cactus in Florida. Individuals typically occur singly and do not generally form dense thickets. O. ammophila was once considered a variety of O. humifusa; however, it is a distinct species. Among their many differences, O. ammophila has gray-green cladodes rather than green or grass-green.[3]
| Opuntia ammophila | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Order: | Caryophyllales |
| Family: | Cactaceae |
| Genus: | Opuntia |
| Species: | O. ammophila
|
| Binomial name | |
| Opuntia ammophila Small
| |
Description
editOpuntia ammophila can grow to the height of humans, and large plants with thick trunks were encountered 100 years ago. However, now it is unusual to find plants that are even 1 m tall. However, even small plants form a single trunk. The flower buds are distinct with recurved tepals, and the flowers themselves are light-yellow with cream-colored stigmas. The plant is infrequently encountered in mid-Florida.[4]
References
edit- ^ Majure, L. (2017) [amended version of 2013 assessment]. "Opuntia ammophila". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017: e.T199641A121620403. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T199641A121620403.en. Retrieved 29 August 2021.
- ^ NRCS. "Opuntia ammophila". PLANTS Database. United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Retrieved 26 June 2017.
- ^ Small, John Kunkel (1919). "The Prickly Pears of Florida" (PDF). Journal of the New York Botanical Garden. 20: 29–30. Retrieved 26 June 2017.
- ^ Ferguson, David J. "Opuntia ammophila". Opuntia Web. Joseph Shaw. Retrieved 13 September 2018.