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Opuntia santa-rita (105)
Name
Opuntia santa-rita
Origin
The species was named after the gorgeous violet prickly pears that are found near the Santa Rita Mountains, in the Santa Cruz valley, Pima County, Arizona. Variations of this cactus can be found from Texas to Arizona, and in northern Mexico.
Nomenclature
The name Opuntia comes from the name of a Greek city. Synonyms include Opuntia violacea var. santa-rita, Opuntia gosseliniana var. santa-rita, and Opuntia chlorotica var. santa-rita.
Discussion
Opuntia is a very large genus of cacti, varying in size from 2 inch miniatures to 100 feet high trees. They are native to virtually every county in the Western Hemisphere. Opuntias not only have normal spines, but they also have thin barbed spines barely visible, named glochids. The fruit of this genus is generally edible.
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