Opuntia galapageia is a species of cactus. It is endemic to the Galápagos Islands, part of Ecuador. Forms occurring on different islands have been treated as separate species and subtaxa of these species. Opuntia echios, Opuntia helleri, Opuntia insularis, Opuntia megasperma, Opuntia myriacantha and Opuntia saxicola are now sunk within O. galapageia.
Description
The variety Opuntia galapageia var. myriacantha, synonym Opuntia galapageia var. echios, has one of the longest spine lengths: up to 25 cm (10 in) in length, exceeded only by Ferocactus emoryi ssp. rectispinus at 33 cm (13 in).
Taxonomy
Opuntia galapageia was first described by John Stevens Henslow in 1837. It was first recorded by Charles Darwin on Santiago (James) Island. Darwin was ashore there for nine days in 1835. Subsequently, at least five other species of Opuntia were described from the Galápagos: Opuntia helleri, Opuntia insularis, Opuntia megasperma, Opuntia myriacantha and Opuntia saxicola. All were treated by David Hunt in 2006 as included within O. galapageia, a placement accepted by the IUCN Red List as of 2017, although they had been assessed as separate species in 2000. Plants of the World Online also accepts the placement within O. galapageia, and includes Opuntia echios, in most cases placing the species in an infraspecific taxon (see the list below).
A large number of varieties and other infraspecific taxa have been named. As of June 2021, Plants of the World Online accepts the following:
Image
Name
Distribution
Opuntia galapageia subvar. barringtonensis (E.Y.Dawson) Backeb., syn. Opuntia echios var. barringtonensis E.Y.Dawson
Santa Fe This is the stoutest variety, with a trunk up to 1.25 m (4 ft 1 in) DBH.
Opuntia galapageia var. gigantea (J.T.Howell) Backeb., syns. Opuntia echios var. gigantea (J.T.Howell) D.M.Porter, Opuntia echios subsp. gigantea J.T.Howell
Santa Cruz Tallest form; up to 12 m (39 ft)....
