Pterocactus (10 spp) means “winged cactus.” These S. American species have dry fruits that break open at maturity to release large, winged seeds. This is a wind-dispersed #cactus! #Opuntoideae #Cactaceae #Tephrocacteae #dispesal. P. tuberosus by Silvina Velez CCBYNC4. #Botany #PlantScience 🌾🧪
December 28, 2023 at 12:04 PM
Pterocactus (10 spp) means “winged cactus.” These S. American species have dry fruits that break open at maturity to release large, winged seeds. This is a wind-dispersed #cactus! #Opuntoideae #Cactaceae #Tephrocacteae #dispesal. P. tuberosus by Silvina Velez CCBYNC4. #Botany #PlantScience 🌾🧪
Maihueniopsis (20 spp) from S. Amer. is in the tribe #Tephrocacteae. These tend to be cushion-forming plants, but they still have the jointed stems that are typical of #Opuntoideae. This is M. ovata by Martin Lowry CCBYNC4 #Cactaceae #Opuntia #Botany #PlantScience 🌾🧪
December 29, 2023 at 12:11 PM
Maihueniopsis (20 spp) from S. Amer. is in the tribe #Tephrocacteae. These tend to be cushion-forming plants, but they still have the jointed stems that are typical of #Opuntoideae. This is M. ovata by Martin Lowry CCBYNC4 #Cactaceae #Opuntia #Botany #PlantScience 🌾🧪