Micropuntia

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title: "Micropuntia" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["opuntioideae", "cacti-of-the-united-states", "flora-of-the-california-desert-regions", "flora-of-the-great-basin", "flora-of-arizona", "flora-of-california", "flora-of-nevada", "flora-of-utah", "natural-history-of-the-mojave-desert", "flora-without-expected-tnc-conservation-status", "monotypic-cactaceae-genera"] description: "Species of cactus" topic_path: "history" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Micropuntia" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Species of cactus ::

| image = Grusonia pulchella.jpg | genus = Micropuntia | parent_authority = Daston | species = pulchella | authority = (Engelm.) M.P.Griff. | synonyms = |Corynopuntia pulchella|(Engelm.) F.M.Knuth |Grusonia pulchella|(Engelm.) H.Rob. |Micropuntia barkleyana|Daston |Micropuntia brachyrhopalica|Daston |Micropuntia gracilicylindrica|E.F.Wiegand & Backeb. |Micropuntia pulchella subsp. gracilicylindrica|(E.F.Wiegand & Backeb.) Hochstätter |Micropuntia pygmaea|E.F.Wiegand & Backeb. |Micropuntia spectatissima|Daston |Micropuntia tuberculosirhopalica|E.F.Wiegand & Backeb. |Micropuntia wiegandii|Backeb. |Opuntia barkleyana|(Daston) G.D.Rowley |Opuntia brachyrhopalica|(Daston) G.D.Rowley |Opuntia gracilicylindrica|(E.F.Wiegand & Backeb.) G.D.Rowley |Opuntia pulchella|Engelm. |Opuntia pygmaea|(E.F.Wiegand & Backeb.) G.D.Rowley |Opuntia spectatissima|(Daston) G.D.Rowley |Opuntia tuberculosirhopalica|(E.F.Wiegand & Backeb.) G.D.Rowley |Opuntia wiegandii|(Backeb.) G.D.Rowley |synonyms_ref = Micropuntia is a monotypic genus of cactus. Its only species is Micropuntia pulchella,

Habitat

Micropuntia pulchella grows in gravelly alluvial fans, often above salt flats or alkali basins. Specimens can be locally common, although they are difficult to locate, often growing under other shrubs such as shadscale.

Description

Micropuntia pulchella differs from other North American opuntioid cacti in having a geophytic habit, where above-ground growth dies back to the crown in adverse conditions, and resprouts under more favorable conditions. Authors have described the underground storage structure as a "tuberous root" or true tuber. The above-ground stems are variable, being cylindrical to globular. The areoles bear flexible yellow spines and white wool. Overall, the above-ground growth can often form a cushion-plant habit. The flowers are bright magenta, and the fruits are dehiscent. The seeds are unique, with a groove running along the hilar surface.

References

Bibliography

References

1. "''Micropuntia'' Daston".
2. "''Micropuntia pulchella'' (Engelm.) M.P.Griff..".
3. "Micropuntia barkleyana (Syn: Grusonia pulchella)".
4. "Grusonia pulchella {{!}} Nevada Natural Heritage Program".
5. Flora of North America, vol 4. 2004.

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