Opuntia mesacantha

Opuntia mesacantha

Taxonavigation

Taxonavigation: Caryophyllales
Classification System: APG IV Superregnum: Eukaryota Cladus: Diaphoretickes Cladus: CAM Cladus: Archaeplastida Regnum: Plantae Cladus: Angiosperms Cladus: Eudicots Cladus: Core eudicots Ordo: Caryophyllales

Familia: Cactaceae
Subfamilia: Opuntioideae
Tribus: Opuntieae
Genus: Opuntia
Species Opuntia mesacantha
Subspecies: O. m. subsp. lata – O. m. subsp. mesacantha

Name

Opuntia mesacantha Raf., Bull. Bot. (Geneva) 1: 216. (1830)

• Type: not designated by the author. Neotype designated by Majure (2014): USA. Virginia. Hampton, 31 May 1878, J.W. Chickering, Jr. s.n. (US!).

Synonyms

• Homotypic
  • Opuntia humifusa subsp. mesacantha (Raf.) Guiggi, Cactology 5(Suppl. 8): 16 (2020)

Distribution

Native distribution areas:
Continental: Northern America Regional: Eastern USA Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, New Jersey, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia References: Brummitt, R.K. 2001. TDWG – World Geographical Scheme for Recording Plant Distributions, 2nd Edition

References

Primary references

• Rafinesque, C.S. in Seringe 1830. Bulletin Botanique (Genève): 216.

Additional references

• Korotkova, N., Aquino, D., Arias, S., Eggli, U., Franck, A. , Gómez-Hinostrosa, C., Guerrero, P.C., Hernández, H.M., Kohlbecker, A., Köhler, M., Luther, K., Majure, L.C., Müller, A., Metzing, D., Nyffeler, R., Sánchez, D., Schlumpberger, B. & Berendsohn, W.G. 2021. Cactaceae at Caryophyllales. org–a dynamic online species-level taxonomic backbone for the family. Willdenowia 51(2): 251–270. DOI: 10.3372/wi.51.51208 Reference page. 
• Majure, L.C., 2014. Typifications and a nomenclatural change in some eastern North American Opuntia (Cactaceae). Phytoneuron 106: 1-2. ResearchGate Reference page. 

Links

• Govaerts, R. et al. 2025. Opuntia mesacantha in Kew Science Plants of the World Online. The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published online. Accessed: 2025 Sept. 16. Reference page. 
• International Plant Names Index. 2025. Opuntia mesacantha. Published online. Accessed: Sept. 16 2025. Reference page.
• Korotkova, N. et al. 2021. Opuntia mesacantha in Cactaceae at Caryophyllales.org. A global synthesis of species diversity in the angiosperm order Caryophyllales. Published online. Accessed: 2021 Nov. 30. Reference page. 
• Tropicos.org 2022. Opuntia mesacantha. Missouri Botanical Garden. Published online. Accessed: 16 Jan 2022. Reference page.

Vernacular names

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