PHOTO GALLERY - Crested Opuntia

prepared by Peter Lapshin

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Dear readers of our e-magazine!
In this issue we continue to publish photos of anomalous succulents. The previous issues of the Photo Gallery were dedicated to the unusual forms of cacti and succulents from genera: Crested Saguaro (#38), Astrophytum cultivars (#38), 'Holland' plants (#37), Cotyledon, Kalanchoe (#36), Agave (#35), Echeveria (#34), Astrophytum (#34), extraordinary plants from collection Shmuel Matityahu: cacti and succulents, succulent compositions (#32), Euphorbia millii (#32), Аdenium (#32), Aeonium (#30), Haworthia (#30), Turbinicarpus (#29), Cereus (#27 и #28), Rebutia (#26), Ariocarpus (#25), Gymnocalycium (#22, #23), Astrophytum (#18).

Here we have selected for you some photos of crested Opuntia.

Cristate shoots appear as a result of the flattening of the developing stem. Apparently the occurrence has a chimerical nature: caused by the gene difference of the tissues participating in the meristem development. If the cell division is not coordinated the appearance of cristate shoot is become possible. The shoot flattening is abnormal for majority of plants.

But for Opuntia flat stem segments are normal (as well as for Rhypsalis and other plants stems of which functioning as leaves).Flat, disk-like shoots are typical for them. Such the effect of a "controlled" cristate is not very common. However there are traditional crested specimens with overgrowth caused by the meristem divergence in addition to the typical stem flattening.

Photos from Internet. The source of a photo is specified under the hyperlink that located after the title of every photo.

Photo 1. Austrocylindropuntia cylindrica f. cristata Nikitsky Botanical Garden (Ukraine, the Crimea).

Photo 2-3. Austrocylindropuntia clavarioides. But this specie is not anomalous, its have very interesting form of grow. Photo by 'Kviti Ukraini' company by Albert Migach, Kiev, Ukraine.

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Photo 4. Austrocylindropuntia vestita f. cristata Nikitsky Botanical Garden (Ukraine, the Crimea).

Photo 5. Austrocylindropuntia vestita f. cristata, Botanical Garden named Fomin (Kiev, Ukraine).

Photo 6. Austrocylindropuntia subulata f. cristata, Botanical Garden named Fomin (Kiev, Ukraine).

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Photo 7-8. Opuntia vestita f. cristata by Edelcactus.nl.

Photo 9. Opuntia cilindrica f. cristata by Edelcactus.nl.

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Photo 10. Opuntia macrodasys crest with crested flower. The Sonoran Desert and Her Plants.

Photo 11. Opuntia microdasys. Crested. Fruit look like little strawberries. Desert Garden of Huntington Botanical Gardens.

Photo 12. Opuntia microdasys crested. From album June by member jnotias from Home-and-garden.webshots.com

Photo 13. Opuntia microdasys cristata. Growth Characteristics: grows to 3 feet high, 6 feet across. Flower yellow, usually cristate as well. Cactuslands.com - shop.

Photo 14. Opuntia microdasys. Crested. Fruit look like little strawberries. Desert Garden of Huntington Botanical Gardens.

Photo 15. Opuntia pycnantha var. margaritana, crested form. Wolfgang Wiesler.

Photo 16. Opuntia violacea f. crista. Crested Purple prickly pear. Arizona Cactus WebSales.

Photo 17. Opuntia pachypus forma cristata. Cacteus.free.fr.

Photo 18. Opuntia vestita f. cristata. TopTropicals.com.

Photo 19-20. Variegated Opunita species. This super cool Opuntia has a very exquisite, marbled variegation that really stands out. Looks like a painter designed this variegation! eBay, item 190058250007.