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Species

Opuntia cochenillifera

Opuntia cochenillifera

Article summary

Editorial SEO summary

Source-backed classification draft for Opuntia cochenillifera.

Scientific taxonomy article

Opuntia cochenillifera

Opuntia cochenillifera (L.) Mill. is treated as an accepted taxon in Plants of the World Online.1

The current source-backed classification places it in Cactaceae within Opuntia.12

Its recorded native range/source remark is MRNNM, FIJ, TANOO, CLMOO, MXSNA, CARIBBEAN, CRL, ROD, BZE, COS, TAN, SUD_OO; Mexico.1

POWO records the plant context as succulent tree, desert or dry shrubland.1

This is a source-populated draft intended for later Kaktus Doktoru editorial rewriting; care advice and morphology should be reviewed before publication.

References

  1. Plants of the World Online. "Opuntia cochenillifera (L.) Mill.". Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Accessed: 2026-06-10. https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:1008816-2 ↩
  2. GBIF Secretariat. "Opuntia cochenillifera". GBIF Backbone Taxonomy. Accessed: 2026-06-10. https://www.gbif.org/species/5384050 ↩

Plants In This Group

Opuntia cochenillifera

Opuntia cochenillifera

Opuntia cochenillifera

Opuntia cochenillifera is an arborescent, nearly spineless cactus species belonging to the Cactaceae family . Historically, it holds immense economic and cultural importance as the primary host plant for rearing the cochineal insect (Dactylopius coccus) used to produce carmine dye.