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October 19, 2007 : Opuntia robusta
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Keywords: Cactaceae | Opuntia robusta H. L. Wendl. ex Pfeiff. | near San Miguel de Allende, Mexico
Can we squeeze in another photograph from David Tarrant? I think so (thanks again!). David writes, “This is Opuntia robusta which is very common around here [near San Miguel de Allende, Mexico]. The flowers were taken in April and the fruit this past weekend. The fruit is delicious and known locally as tuna. Also, the young pads of these are delicious as a steamed vegetable once the thorns are removed.”
Wheel cactus is native only to northern and central Mexico, though it has naturalized elsewhere, including South Australia, where it is considered a noxious weed (risk assessment). The genus Opuntia can be found in arid sites from southern Canada to southern Argentina (including the Caribbean Islands and the Galapagos), making it the most widespread of cacti.
I don't think I have to explain the epithet robusta; if I do, suffice it to say that this species can grow to 6m tall with a 6m spread (20ft.), with pads measuring 30cm (1ft.). I can't find a top-notch image of this cactus in its full height and spread on a non-commercial site, though one photograph on the CalPhotos site for Opuntia robusta gives a hint.
Photography resource link: André Gallant is a Canadian photographer who does stunning work in colour, often with a nature focus. André often gives workshops alongside Freeman Patterson. To unite this with today's entry a bit, one of the locales visited by André in his workshops is San Miguel de Allende. Lastly, on the topic of workshops and seminars (and if you're a local reader), André is speaking this weekend at the Abbotsford Photo Arts Club (APAC) annual conference. Saturday's sessions are mostly full (or at least the ones I was interested in when I looked earlier this week), but André is also presenting for most of the day on Sunday in Burnaby. You can register for the Sunday presentations through the APAC site – I'll be there.
Posted by Daniel Mosquin at October 19, 2007 12:00 AM
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Posted by: Bobbie at October 19, 2007 4:04 AM
Since P robusta can grow that big, I wonder if it was the Opuntia that I saw on a roadside in Southern California in 1973? Unfortunately I lost all my slides in a house fire in 1986 and can't show the picture, but I had taken several slides of it, one with my daughter standing in front of it for a size comparison. It towered over our heads to a height of at least 15 feet, and the pads were between one foot and one and a half feet. The spread was about 25 feet (our 20 ft long car was parked beside it and it was about 5 feet wider than the car was long). It was not in flower at the time (June I believe).
Carol
Posted by: Carol Ross at October 19, 2007 7:16 AM
How closely is this related to the "Michigan Cactus" that is hardy here in central Michigan? It grows only less than a foot tall, spreads out widely, has beautiful yellow flowers. The structure appears the same.
Posted by: Judy Blevins at October 19, 2007 8:33 AM
Opuntia robusta is but one species in a genus of cacti with often similar overall structure and appearance, there are other species hardy farther north. One seen in Michigan might be eastern native O. humifusa.
Posted by: Ron B at October 19, 2007 9:46 AM
I once went to a lecture regarding hybridization in Opuntia cacti as an excellent example of hybrid vigor. There was one hybrid that seemed to take on the adaptive characteristics of both of its parents as well as a "structural weakness" which made the pads more likely to break off. This weakness actually turns out to be somewhat of a strength, however, because those fallen pads would each reproduce vegetatively. I feel like O. robusta may have been one of the parents of this hybrid.
Posted by: Joe at October 19, 2007 10:58 AM
Hi Daniel
Opuntia are much tougher plants than most of us realize. O. fragilis not only grows wild near us around Kaladar ON but can also be found in northern British Columbia and northern Alberta. Locations are given in "A Review of the Distribution of the Native Cacti of Canada "- by Ken Hancock.
Have never tried these epicurean treats here but under the Mexican sun with David in San Miguel I suspect they could prove quite delicious . . . with a little tequilla.
Posted by: Brian Carson at October 19, 2007 11:34 AM
Hello Brian, I debated about using the phrase “southern Canada” to describe the distribution of Opuntia, but it is geographically accurate: the north-south centre of Canada is at 62 degrees north, which passes through Yukon, the Northwest Territories, Nunavut and Quebec.
Posted by: Daniel Mosquin 
at October 19, 2007 11:48 AM
How does this differ from prickly pear? I have seen a lot of prickly pear all over OK and northern CA - the fruit is even sold at farmers' markets here, just north of Santa Rosa CA.
Posted by: Peggy at October 19, 2007 12:33 PM
i have been going from link to link
to link tarrant gallant and paterson
are just some of the best really really are
a little salt and a wedge of lime
and a shot of tequilla to one and all
Posted by: elizabeth a airhart at October 19, 2007 4:06 PM
I have seen the virtually creeping Opuntia humifusa growing in along the estuarine banks of New York harbor. There are several opuntia species that will overwinter here.
Posted by: Karen Vaughan at November 8, 2007 3:46 PM
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This cactus is very familiar to me, since I was raised in New Mexico. I remember when my sister was dating her husband they would go find tunas and eat them instead of spending their time at the local drive-in.