Opuntia brasiliensis (Willd.) Haw.

Horticultural & Botanical History

‘The accompanying beautiful and very accurate delineation is the joint production of two ladies, whose talent in executing is only equalled by their zeal and readiness in undertaking whatever may be useful in the cause of Botanical science; the Hon. Miss Norton and Miss Young.  Though of comparatively recent introduction to Madeira, O. Brasiliensis now occurs in several gardens at Funchal, flourishing without the slightest care or attention.  Its principal flowering season is May or June; but blossoms are often produced more or less throughout the year.  The fruit figured was ripe in May, simultaneously with the inflorescence; but August or September is its more abundant season.  The peculiar habit and mode of growth at once distinguish this species.  It rises with a perfectly straight, erect, slender, but firm and stiff, round stem, to a height of from ten to twenty, or even thirty feet, very gradually tapering to a point from a diameter of two to six inches at the base, and furnished all the way up with short, mostly horizontal or declining branches, spreading round on all sides not more than a yard in any part from the main stem, and gradually becoming shorter upwards; often altogether ceasing a little below the summit.  The whole plant resembles a straight, taper pole, artificially dressed up with branches.’  [BM t.3293/1834].

Introduced to Britain in 1816.  [PD].

History at Camden Park

Hand-written entry in a copy of the 1850 catalogue held by the Mitchell Library, endorsed on the front Wm. Macarthur, 23rd Dec, 1854.  [ML 635.9m].  Certainly grown in the gardens at this time.

Notes