Double Header

Watch Reply
More
Mark unread Print Skip to new
DaisyPlantLady Reno, NV(Zone 6b) May 01, 2015

I posted this in the Plant ID Forum this morning. So far, no takers so I thought I would double post the double header:

I collected seed from an unknown (to me) Opuntia last fall. It was one wicked plant - hefty spines and thick pads. The plant was about 1.5 feet tall and 4 feet wide. Definitely cold hardy as it was growing on a college campus in the hills just above Carson City NV. I wasn't smart enough to take photos of it - probably because it was snowing and the wind was blowing and it was cold out there.

To the question: Have you ever seen a double cotyledon on a Opuntia? When the first seed sprouted, I thought it was a fluke but every one of them has the same double head - one large and one smaller coming off the base of the stem of the larger.

It seems this should be an identifying characteristic.

Any thoughts?

Daisy

Thumbnail by DaisyPlantLady
Post #10065036
Quote
Baja_Costero Baja California, Mexico(Zone 11) May 01, 2015

It is indeed an identifying characteristic. Opuntias are dicots and produce 2 seed leaves. All cacti will produce (often tiny) seed leaves before they start normal-looking growth.

Post #10065112
Quote
DaisyPlantLady Reno, NV(Zone 6b) May 01, 2015

Yep, got the Opuntia are dicot part. But this little dicot (and all his siblings) are working over-time and producing two sets per plant. An Opuntia that has two sets of seed leaves .... I've never seen it before.

Post #10065259
Quote
Baja_Costero Baja California, Mexico(Zone 11) May 01, 2015

Those are not two plants in the picture?

Post #10065307
Quote
DaisyPlantLady Reno, NV(Zone 6b) May 01, 2015

Nope. The little one is coming off the base of the stem of the big one. I ripped one apart to figure that out.

Post #10065348
Quote
Baja_Costero Baja California, Mexico(Zone 11) May 02, 2015

So they're all Siamese twins. Pretty weird.

Post #10065695
Quote
DaisyPlantLady Reno, NV(Zone 6b) May 02, 2015

Yes, Siamese twins with a big sibling and a little sibling. weird

Post #10066004
Quote
George76904 Americus, GA May 05, 2015

a few of my opuntia and other seedlings did that too. I chalked it up to a mutation and just let them be.

Post #10067857
Quote

Post a Reply to this Thread

Please or sign up to post.
Back to Forum Homepage

More Cacti and Succulents Threads

Go to all Cacti and Succulents threads
BACK TO TOP