5417.000 Opuntia Mill.

Succulent shrubs or trees. Stems either composed of flattened joints or terete; branches tuberculate. Areoles with up to 30 spines; glochidia present. Leaves 0 or inconspicuous, caducous. Flowers solitary. Fruit purple, red or yellow.

Derivation of name: based on Tournefort’s name for succulent plants from Opous, Boeotea, Greece.

Worldwide: 200 species, N and S America.

Burundi: 1 taxon.