Opuntia engelmannii var. linguiformis

(Griffiths) B. D. Parfitt & Pinkava

Madroño 35: 347. 1988.

Common names: Cow’s tongue pricklypear
Basionym: Opuntia linguiformis Griffiths Rep. (Annual) Missouri Bot. Gard. 19: 270, plate 27 (lower). 1908
Synonyms: Opuntia lindheimeri var. linguiformis (Griffiths) L. D. Benson
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 4. Treatment on page 135. Mentioned on page 136.

Stem segments lanceolate to narrowly lanceolate, becoming very elongate, often falcate, 35–120+ × 8–17.5 cm, 2+ times longer than wide. Spines 0–3 per areole, absent or irregularly to regularly arranged at most distal areoles, yellow, aging blackish, longest 12–30 mm. 2n = 66.


Phenology: Flowering spring (Apr–May).
Habitat: Deserts
Elevation: 100-600 m

Distribution

V4 254-distribution-map.gif

Ariz., Tex., Mexico (Coahuila).

Discussion

Opuntia engelmannii var. linguiformis is widely cultivated, at times escaping and becoming established in native desert vegetation. It was questionably reported to be native in Bexar County, Texas (D. Weniger 1984).

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.
Donald J. Pinkava +
(Griffiths) B. D. Parfitt & Pinkava +
Opuntia linguiformis +
Cow’s tongue pricklypear +
Ariz. +, Tex. +  and Mexico (Coahuila). +
100-600 m +
Deserts +
Flowering spring (Apr–May). +
Opuntia lindheimeri var. linguiformis +
Opuntia engelmannii var. linguiformis +
Opuntia engelmannii +
variety +