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 polyacantha Haw.
Indexed scientific synonyms
Cactus ferox Nutt.Opuntia barbata K.BrandegeeOpuntia barbata K.Brandegee ex J.A.PurpusOpuntia barbata var. gracillima K.BrandegeeOpuntia barbata var. gracillima K.Brandegee ex J.A.PurpusOpuntia calacantha OttoOpuntia calacantha Otto ex J.ForbesOpuntia erinacea var. utahensis (Engelm.) L.D.BensonOpuntia heacockiae ArpOpuntia heacockul ArpOpuntia juniperina Britton & RoseOpuntia media Haw.Opuntia missouriensis DC.Opuntia missouriensis f. albispina (Engelm. & J.M.Bigelow) SchelleOpuntia missouriensis var. albispina Engelm. & J.M.BigelowOpuntia missouriensis var. elongata Salm-DyckOpuntia missouriensis var. microsperma Engelm.Opuntia missouriensis var. platycarpa Engelm.Opuntia missouriensis var. rufispina Engelm. & J.M.BigelowOpuntia missouriensis var. salmonea SpäthOpuntia missouriensis var. salmonea Späth ex J.A.PurpusOpuntia missouriensis var. subinermis Engelm.Opuntia neorutila Y.ItôOpuntia polyacantha f. platycarpa (J.M.Coult.) Toumey & RoseOpuntia polyacantha subsp. borealis (J.M.Coult.) Piper & BeattieOpuntia polyacantha var. albispina J.M.Coult.Opuntia polyacantha var. borealis J.M.Coult.Opuntia polyacantha var. erythrostema J.A.PurpusOpuntia polyacantha var. juniperina (Britton & Rose) L.D.BensonOpuntia polyacantha var. platycarpa J.M.Coult.Opuntia polyacantha var. rhodantha (K.Schum.) M.H.J.van der MeerOpuntia polyacantha var. rufispina (Engelm. & J.M.Bigelow) L.D.BensonOpuntia polyacantha var. salmonea J.A.PurpusOpuntia polyacantha var. schweriniana (K.Schum.) Backeb.Opuntia polyacantha var. spirocentra J.A.PurpusOpuntia polyacantha var. subinermis J.A.PurpusOpuntia polyacantha var. utahensis (Engelm.) BulotOpuntia polyacantha var. watsonii J.M.Coult.Opuntia rutila Nutt. ex Torr. & A.GrayOpuntia schwerianina K.Schum.Opuntia schweriniana K.Schum.Opuntia sphaerocarpa Engelm. & J.M.BigelowOpuntia sphaerocarpa var. utahensis Engelm.Opuntia spirocentra Engelm. & J.M.BigelowOpuntia spirocentra Engelm. & J.M.Bigelow ex HaageOpuntia splendens Pfeiff.Opuntia trichopora BrittonOpuntia utahensis J.A.PurpusTunas polyacantha (Haw.) Nieuwl. & Lunell
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 identifier290995-2
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.