Opuntia huajuapensis

Opuntia huajuapensis
Flowering individual
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Order:	Caryophyllales
Family:	Cactaceae
Subfamily:	Opuntioideae
Tribe:	Opuntieae
Genus:	Opuntia
Species:	O. huajuapensis
Binomial name
Opuntia huajuapensis Bravo
Distribution

Opuntia huajuapensis, commonly known as the Huajuapan prickly pear or the Chumbera, is a species of prickly pear cactus in the family Cactaceae. It was described by Helia Bravo Hollis in 1953, and named for the town of Heroica Ciudad Huajuapan de León, Oaxaca, from which the first specimens were described.

Description

Opuntia huajuapensis is a shrubby cactus species, being more wide than tall, with sparsely armed stems, and yellow flowers. It has larger-sized spines, that cover most of the cacti's pads. The fruit produced by the species is sweet tasting, with a yellow-green inside.

Distribution and habitat

Opuntia huajuapensis is native to parts of Oaxaca, Puebla, and Tlaxcala, Mexico, where the species grows at elevations of 2000 m (6561 feet) to 2700 m (8858 feet). It primarily grows in Pre-cordilleran steppes and Oak-savannah.

Conservation

Opuntia huajuapensis is currently listed as "Least Concern" by the IUCN Red List, for there are not many severe threats to its natural range.

Uses

Opuntia huajuapensis has no currently listed uses, but has been introduced to parts of Spain, where it grows as an ornamental cactus. It is on the list of "Alien invasive species" in Europe though, for it is not native to Spain, and could pose a threat to local agriculture and tourism.