New synonyms of Opuntia ficus-indica (Cactaceae)

Abstract

Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Mill., the common prickly-pear, is consider as cornposed by f. ficus-indica, the non-spiny form, and f. amyclaea (Ten.) Schelle. Both are octoploids (2n=88) and constitute a true fruit-tree, product of a long selection from ancient times, as discussed extensively in another paper. The following synonyms are established or accepted for f. ficus-indica: O. tuna-blanca Speg., O. ficus-indica var. gymnocarpa Speg., and O. ficus-indica var. decumana (Willd.) Speg. O. megacantha Salm-Dick, O. streptacantha Lem. and O. cordobensis Speg. are synonyms of f. amyclaea.