More than 2200 species of the wild flora and fauna photographed in Zihuatanejo, Guerrero, Mexico and the surrounding area.
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Pinks, Cactuses and Allies of Zihuatanejo
ORDER CAROPHYLLALES
Opuntia karwinskiana
Flowers by Colour
-Vascular Plants (Phylum Tracheophyta)
-Flowering Plants (Subphylum Angiospermae)
-Pinks, Cactuses, and Allies (Order Caryophyllales)
-Cactus Family (Family Cactaceae)
-Subfamily Opuntioideae
-Tribe Opuntieae
-Prickly Pears (Genus Opuntia)
-Subgenus Nopalea
-Opuntia karwinskiana
Opuntia karwinskiana, is a species of cactus native to Mexico and parts of the southwestern United States. This cactus is well suited to dry environments and can be found growing in rocky places and deserts. Prickly pears are widely used in Mexican cuisine, for their sweet fruit (tuna), and their pads are also used in salads and as a vegetable (nopales). It has flat green pads covered in tiny spines and vibrant yellow or red fruits.
Description
• Opuntia karwinskiana is a species of prickly pear cactus in the family Cactaceae. Like other members of Opuntia, it is expected to have fleshy, jointed stem segments that store water, areoles bearing glochids or spines, and flowers that develop into fleshy fruits.
Range
• The name Opuntia karwinskiana has a limited and inconsistent presence in widely used modern taxonomic references, so its accepted status and precise native range require verification. The reported plant is from Zihuatanejo, Guerrero, and the surrounding area.
Habitat
• Prickly pears generally grow in sunny, well-drained habitats, including rocky slopes, scrub, dry forest margins, and open disturbed ground. They are commonly adapted to heat and seasonal drought, storing water in their fleshy stems.
