#Opuntia aciculata

[fatchance]

Chenille pricklypear cactus (Opuntia aciculata) at the Desert Botanical Garden, Phoenix, Arizona.

Etymology note: The species name aciculata is derived from the Latin word acicula, meaning a small pin used to secure a head covering.

[thebotanicalarcade]

n304_w1150 by Biodiversity Heritage Library Via Flickr: The Cactaceae. v.1. Washington :Carnegie Institution of Washington,1919-1923. biodiversitylibrary.org/page/32090209

[cactguy]

All of the Kelly Grummons opuntia from the Texas Native Plant Lab at the Dallas Arboretum, our hands-on teaching space, have been moved out into the Main Garden (the big leagues) Waterwise display. I can’t wait for many more people to see their gorgeous blooms!

Front:

Opuntia polyacantha ‘Citrus Punch’

Opuntia phaeacantha ‘Dark Knight’

Opuntia sp. ‘Little Monk’

Mid:

Echinocereus triglochidiatus

Back:

Opuntia aciculata

Opuntia aurea ‘Coombe’s Winter Glow’

Opuntia aciculata

Far back:

Opuntia ellisiana

[dearwassily]

More Opuntia Aciculata

[fatchance]

Tunas.

Ripening fruit on a chenille pricklypear cactus (Opuntia aciculata), at Desert Botanical Garden, Phoenix, Arizona.

[cactguy]

Texas Native Plant Lab / Dallas Arboretum

Opuntia sp. ‘Little Monk’

Opuntia polyacantha ‘Citrus Punch’

Opuntia phaeacantha 'Dark Knight’

Opuntia aurea 'Coombe’s Winter Glow’

Opuntia aciculata / Chenille cactus

[cactguy]

Texas Native Plant Lab / Dallas Arboretum

Opuntia aciculata, chenille cactus, is finally blooming, too.

[cactguy]

Texas Native Plant Lab / Dallas Arboretum Another week brings new blooms; today the Opuntia aciculata, chenille cactus, is stunningly red-orange.

[cactguy]

Texas Native Plant Lab / Dallas Arboretum Opuntia aciculata / chenille cactus trio

[cactguy]

Texas Native Plant Lab / Dallas Arboretum The last of the sport prickly pears, Opuntia aciculata, commonly called chenille cactus due to the omnipresent glochids, has finally joined the show - but you’ll have to look very closely to see the new growth.

[cactguy]

Texas Native Plant Lab / Dallas Arboretum 2/5 have bloomed, 2/5 still have buds, and 1/5 have no buds yet - but the first round of growth for the year is looking good. Opuntia sp. ‘Little Monk’ Opuntia polyacantha ‘Citrus Punch’ Opuntia phaeacantha ‘Dark Knight’ Opuntia aurea 'Coombe’s Winter Glow’ Opuntia aciculata / Chenille cactus

[cactguy]

Texas Native Plant Lab / Dallas Arboretum

Opuntia sp. ‘Little Monk’ Opuntia polyacantha ‘Citrus Punch’ Opuntia phaeacantha 'Dark Knight’ Opuntia aurea 'Coombe’s Winter Glow’ Opuntia aciculata / Chenille cactus

[cactguy]

Texas Native Plant Lab / Dallas Arboretum Opuntia aciculata, Chenille cactus February 20 - March 13, 2017

[cactguy]

Texas Native Plant Lab / Dallas Arboretum Here is the second check-in on the sport prickly pears from Kelly Grummons at https://coldhardycactus.com: Opuntia sp. ‘Little Monk’
Opuntia phaeacantha 'Dark Knight’
Opuntia polyacantha 'Citrus Punch’
Opuntia aurea 'Coombe’s Winter Glow’
Opuntia aciculata

[cactguy]

Texas Native Plant Lab / Dallas Arboretum I did my first check in on the native plant lab this week as our first spring student session is next week, and I'm happy to say that all five sport Opuntia have new cladodes emerging! Opuntia sp. 'Little Monk' Opuntia phaeacantha 'Dark Knight' Opuntia polyacantha 'Citrus Punch' Opuntia aurea 'Coombe's Winter Glow' Opuntia aciculata

[cactguy]

Texas Native Plant Lab / Dallas Arboretum

Things are progressing quickly, and new growth is now distinguishable as either cladodes or blooms to the naked eye in most of the Opuntia.

Opuntia sp. ‘Little Monk’ Opuntia polyacantha 'Citrus Punch’
Opuntia phaeacantha 'Dark Knight’
Opuntia aurea 'Coombe’s Winter Glow’
Opuntia aciculata / Chenille cactus