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Opuntia phaeacantha Engelm
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Comentarios y citas reseñables
Comentario:
    Es una especie polimorfa que resiste bien el frío. Presenta artejos armados de espinas reflejas, más numerosas en las areolas marginales, de color amarillo pajizo y más oscuras en la base. Los gloquidios son de color amarillo-marrón, las flores amarillas y los fruto rojo-vinoso, de aprox. 30mm de largo.
La identidad precisa de esta planta no es del todo segura. Pertenece al grupo phaeacantha, del cual existen numerosas razas además de híbridos con otras especies (tanto en su ámbito natural como aquellos originados por la intervención del hombre).
Respecto a la complejidad de los híbridos de O. engelmannii - phaeacantha, puede consultarse el trabajo de: Felger, R.S., S. Rutman, J. Malusa, and M.A. Baker. 2014. Ajo Peak to Tinajas Altas: A flora in southwestern Arizona. Part 7. Eudicots: Cactaceae – Cactus Family. Phytoneuron 2014-69: 1–95. Published 1 July 2014. ISSN 2153 733X "Opuntia engelmannii and O. phaeacantha may hybridize and the resulting variation can be perplexing. For example, O. phaeacantha plants known to have red-centered flowers can also have fruits with red-colored rind, the pulp being whitish or even reddish. Sometimes the hexaploid O. engelmannii/phaeacantha complex can be seen as a super species or species complex, with no hard and fast rules, only trends, and the trends can be localized. Some cactus enthusiasts and botanists have recognized dozens of species within the complex, many of which are probably apomictic clones or microspecies. In the flora area as well as elsewhere, O. engelmannii and O. phaeacantha often occur together. The morphology at both ends of the gamut is so different that people have a difficult time not wanting to keep them as separate species. Perhaps DNA studies will eventually help clarify the problem. For example, David Griffiths (1867–1935) named more than a dozen species at both ends of the gamut as well as morphological intermediates in many localities based on minor differences. Some people have picked up these names and claim they can identify them and perhaps they can but the question is: Are they worthy of taxonomic recognition and, if so, is there any way to make a key so that you or I or anybody else can identify them? The problem may be likened to that of the dog, where there are a myriad of forms but all belonging to the same species."
Citas reseñables:
    PYKE (2003) Zaragoza (Z), Calatayud (Z); RODRIGUEZ, D.(confirmado 2006) Gurrea de Gállego (HU).
Autor ficha: S. Pyke