Lachy
Moderator
Number of posts: 715
Location: Langwarrin
Registration date: 2008-04-05
 | | Subject: A trio of Opuntias... Wed Jan 20, 2010 12:21 pm | |
| G'day guys... I've got three more plants for ID here. This first one came from Collector's Corner, and stands maybe 8 inches tall. It was helpfully tagged "Opuntia"...   I bought this one at the Mornington market a while ago. It stands around a foot tall, and has only the occasional single glochid.  This last one I found dumped as green waste... I'm guessing it's some sort of noxious weed. It certainly grows like a weed, and stands about 18 inches tall.  Any ideas? |
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Darren
Calm and Collected
Number of posts: 323
Location: adelaide but moving to monbulk
Registration date: 2009-09-07
| | Subject: Re: A trio of Opuntias... Wed Jan 20, 2010 1:31 pm | |
| Hi Lachy
i have one very similar to the first picture and it was ID'd as opuntia prolifera.
regards
Darren |
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lewis
avid contributor & moderator
Number of posts: 863
Location: Melbourne
Registration date: 2008-05-07
| | Subject: Re: A trio of Opuntias... Wed Jan 20, 2010 4:58 pm | |
| #2 and #3 look the same...
O.monacantha aka vulgaris.
just at different stages of development.
scooby may correct me.
Oh and you are correct it actually is a noxious weed in these parts LOL.
I've seen it growing wild along Melb trainlines. |
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Lachy
Moderator
Number of posts: 715
Location: Langwarrin
Registration date: 2008-04-05
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lewis
avid contributor & moderator
Number of posts: 863
Location: Melbourne
Registration date: 2008-05-07
| | Subject: Re: A trio of Opuntias... Wed Jan 20, 2010 5:43 pm | |
| | Quote: | | It's quite interesting if #2 and 3 are the same species. The general structure is the same, but when looked at up close the morphology is actually quite different; #3 has inch-long spines and some glochids and grows extremely fast. #2, on the other hand, is relatively slow growing and has no spines and only the occasional glochid. The pads are also much smaller. |
Hmm yeah I see what you mean, I could well be wrong mate...
scooby seems to be in the know about Opuntoids so he should chime in and provide a more accurate identification  |
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Lachy
Moderator
Number of posts: 715
Location: Langwarrin
Registration date: 2008-04-05
| | Subject: Re: A trio of Opuntias... Fri Jan 22, 2010 9:20 am | |
| I've posted this over at Cactiguide, and the consensus does seem to be that both are O. monacantha. The giveaway is supposed to be the elongated, indeterminate pad growth and the little red "leaves". If this is the case, that makes three different varieties of monacantha that I have growing in my collection, as I also have a variegated monstrose form as well. Three kinds of noxious weed! |
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