ISI 2026-4. Miqueliopuntia miquelii (Monville) F. Ritter.
Monotypic genera, like Miqueliopuntia, containing a single species, are becoming a rarity in plant taxonomy. Accumulating DNA evidence increasingly justifies the inclusion of seemingly unique taxa in larger groups, or reveals the distinctness of new variants that deserve naming to expand these small genera. Miqueliopuntia miquelii is also unusual in being doubly commemorative of Anton Wilhelm Miquel (1811-1871) director of the botanical garden of the Utrecht and Lieden Herbarium in Holland during the last decade or so of his life. The generic name, combining Miquel's name with opuntia, of course, indicates that this is an opuntioid species bearing the usual barbed spines of the group as well as the minute glochids which are both the charm and the curse of opuntias. These clearly function for mechanical protection from herbivores but, research has shown, can also help with absorption of condensed dew to help keep the plants hydrated during dry spells. The stout, jointed stems (joints to 20 cm long and 6 cm in diameter) clump to form a low shrub 0.5 m tall (to 1.5 m). They bristle with beige central spines to 8 cm long but these are sparse enough that the tuberculate stems are obvious, and one can appreciate the beautiful bluish color of the mature epidermis. Plants in harsher conditions, as in habitat, may appear dead as they are completely covered with spines that age gray. Flowers can be light yellow to pinkish. We offer a yellow-flowered form. Rooted joints of HBG 141611, a plant received from Marc Beckstrom who obtained it from the late Jürgen Menzel.
See photo by Jürgen Menzel, courtesy of Joel Lode.
Photo © 2026 by John Trager. Photo © 2026 by Jürgen Menzel
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