Micropuntia
| Micropuntia | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Embryophytes |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Order: | Caryophyllales |
| Family: | Cactaceae |
| Genus: | Micropuntia Daston |
| Species: | M. pulchella |
| Binomial name | |
| Micropuntia pulchella (Engelm.) M.P.Griff. | |
| Synonyms[2] | |
|
List
| |
Micropuntia is a monotypic genus of cactus. Its only species is Micropuntia pulchella, synonym Grusonia pulchella. The species is also known as sagebrush cholla. It is a tuberous species of opuntioid cactus from the Great Basin Desert of central Nevada, eastern California and western Utah in the United States.[3][4]
Description
[edit]Micropuntia pulchella differs from other North American opuntioid cacti in having a geophytic habit, where above-ground growth dies back to the crown in adverse conditions, and resprouts under more favorable conditions. Authors have described the underground storage structure as a "tuberous root" or true tuber. The above-ground stems are variable, being cylindrical to globular. The areoles bear flexible yellow spines and white wool. Overall, the above-ground growth can often form a cushion-plant habit. The flowers are bright magenta, and the fruits are dehiscent. The seeds are unique, with a groove running along the hilar surface.[5]
Taxonomy
[edit]The genus Micropuntia was described by J.S. Daston in 1947. When Daston created the genus it was with three species that are considered heterotypic synonyms of the species Micropuntia pulchella.[6] The species Micropuntia pulchella was scientifically described by George Engelmann in 1863 as Opuntia pulchella. It was moved to Micropuntia by M.Patrick Griffith in a paper published in 2003.[2]
Range and habitat
[edit]Sagebrush cholla is native to three western US states, California, Nevada, and Utah.[2]
Micropuntia pulchella grows in gravelly alluvial fans, often above salt flats or alkali basins. Specimens can be locally common, although they are difficult to locate, often growing under other shrubs such as shadscale.[7]
References
[edit]Citations
[edit]- ↑ NatureServe 2026.
- 1 2 3 POWO 2026b.
- ↑ "Micropuntia barkleyana (Syn: Grusonia pulchella)".
- ↑ Anderson 2001, p. 346
- ↑ Flora of North America, vol 4. 2004.
- ↑ POWO 2026a.
- ↑ "Grusonia pulchella | Nevada Natural Heritage Program". heritage.nv.gov. Archived from the original on 2013-12-29.
Sources
[edit]Books
[edit]- Anderson, Edward F. (2001), The Cactus Family, Pentland, Oregon: Timber Press, ISBN 978-0-88192-498-5
Web sources
[edit]- NatureServe (5 June 2026). "Opuntia pulchella". NatureServe Explorer. Arlington, Virginia. Retrieved 22 June 2026.
- POWO (2026a). "Micropuntia Daston". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 22 June 2026.
- POWO (2026b). "Micropuntia pulchella (Engelm.) M.P.Griff". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 22 June 2026.
External links
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