Common name: Indian Fig, Spineless Cactus
Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Mill. APNI* Synonyms: Opuntia paraguayensis K.Schum. APNI*
Opuntia vulgaris Mill. APNI*
Description: Large bushy shrub or often with a definite trunk and tree-like. Segments obovate, compressed, 30–50 cm long, 10–20 cm wide, green. Leaves to 3 mm long, shed early. Areoles small, distant; spines variable, often absent or usually 1–2 spines per areole to 20 mm long; or occasionally with 3–9 spines up to 40 mm long; glochids inconspicuous 0.5–1.5 mm long, yellowish, numerous, soon falling.
Flowers bright yellow, 7–10 cm diam.
Fruit ovoid, depressed at apex, 5–9 cm long, red.
Distribution and occurrence: Cultivated for its edible fruit; sporadic escape from cultivation. Probably native of southern N Amer.; widely naturalized in trop. regions of the world.
NSW subdivisions: *CC, *CWS, *SWP, *NFWP
Other Australian states: *Vic. *S.A.
Text by G. J. Harden
Taxon concept: Flora of NSW 1 (1990)
APNI* Provides a link to the Australian Plant Name Index (hosted by the Australian National Botanic Gardens) for comprehensive bibliographic data
***The AVH map option provides a detailed interactive Australia wide distribution map drawn from collections held by all major Australian herbaria participating in the Australian Virtual Herbarium project.
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