Botanical identity
This taxon is documented in the World Checklist of Useful Plant Species with a reported medicinal use. The record establishes a use report and botanical index entry, not clinical effectiveness or individual safety.
KingdomPlantae
Phylum / divisionTracheophyta
ClassMagnoliopsida
OrderCaryophyllales
FamilyCactaceae
GenusOpuntia
Scientific name with authorshipOpuntia macrorhiza Engelm.
Indexed scientific synonyms
Cactus tuberculatus Willd.Opuntia compressa var. grandiflora (Engelm.) D.WenigerOpuntia compressa var. macrorhiza (Engelm.) L.D.BensonOpuntia compressa var. stenochila (Engelm. & J.M.Bigelow) D.WenigerOpuntia fusiformis Engelm. & J.M.BigelowOpuntia grandiflora (Engelm.) SmallOpuntia grandiflora Engelm.Opuntia greenei Engelm. ex J.M.Coult.Opuntia greenii Engelm., 1896Opuntia leptocarpa MackensenOpuntia loomisii PeeblesOpuntia mackensenii RoseOpuntia macrorhiza subsp. macrorhizaOpuntia macrorhiza var. grandiflora (Engelm.) BulotOpuntia macrorhiza var. greenii (J.M.Coult.) BulotOpuntia macrorhiza var. macrorhizaOpuntia macrorhiza var. potosina Hern.-ValenciaOpuntia macrorhiza var. potosina R.E.M.Hern.Opuntia mesacantha var. grandiflora Engelm.Opuntia mesacantha var. greenii J.M.Coult.Opuntia mesacantha var. macrorhiza (Engelm.) J.M.Coult.Opuntia mesacantha var. stenochila (Engelm. & J.M.Bigelow) J.M.Coult.Opuntia plumbea RoseOpuntia rafinesquei var. fusiformis Engelm.Opuntia rafinesquei var. grandiflora Engelm.Opuntia roseana MackensenOpuntia seguina C.Z.NelsonOpuntia stenochila Engelm. & J.M.BigelowOpuntia tortispina Engelm. & J.M.BigelowOpuntia tuberculata (Willd.) Haw.Opuntia xanthoglochia Griffiths
Documented use categories
These categories describe the kinds of human-use reports attached to the taxon in the source checklist. Multiple categories can coexist; a plant may be recorded as both food and poison, depending on part, preparation and context.
How to interpret this record
Evidence boundary
A taxonomic use record is a discovery and indexing signal. Clinical evidence must be assessed separately for the exact species, plant part, preparation, route, dose and health question.
Safety boundary
Correct identification is essential. Toxicity, contraindications, interactions and safe preparation cannot be inferred from a documented-use record.
Dataset record and provenance
DatasetWCUPS 2020
LicenceCC BY 4.0
Name sourceIPNI
IPNI / external identifier175276-2
Use codesME
Crop wild relativeNo
Contributing checklist sources
Medicinal Plant Names Services v8.2
Read the full dataset citation, licence and import methodology →
!Educational index, not a treatment recommendation
The presence of a taxon in this database does not provide a diagnosis, dose, formulation or assurance of safety. Some indexed plants are toxic, regulated, endangered or unsafe in specific life stages.