opuntia
noun
any cactus of the genus Opuntia, esp prickly pear, having fleshy branched stems and green, red, or yellow flowers
Word Origin for opuntia
C17: New Latin, from Latin Opuntia (herba) the Opuntian (plant), from Opus, ancient town of Locris, Greece
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Examples from the Web for opuntia
Historical Examples of opuntia
You know that Henslow has described a new Opuntia from the Galapagos.
More Letters of Charles DarwinCharles Darwin
The fruit of the Opuntia cactus, of which there are about two hundred species.
Original Narratives of Early American HistoryVaca and Others
A closely-related species is known as tassajo (Opuntia sponsior).
American Forest TreesHenry H. Gibson
Cholla (Opuntia fulgida) ranges from Nevada southward into Mexico.
American Forest TreesHenry H. Gibson
Grafted on to a Cereus or Opuntia it is healthier than when on its own roots.
Cactus Culture For AmateursW. Watson