Features of fruits and seeds of opuntia (Cactaceae) species naturalized in crimea

Abstract

The paper presents the results of studies of the fruits and seeds of Opuntia representatives naturalized on the territory of the Crimean Peninsula: Opuntia engelmannii Salm-Dyck ex Engelm. var. lindheimeri (Engelm.) U. Guzman et Mandujano, O. fragilis (Nutt.) Haw., O. humifusa Raf., O. macrorhiza Engelm., O. polyacantha Haw., O. phaeacantha Engelm. f. rubra Späth., O. tortispina Engelm. et J.M. Bigelow, O. tunoidea Gibbes. The morphological and morphometric parameters of fruits and seeds were studied and described and their characteristics are provided. The most characteristic distinсtive features of the fruits are their shape, color, as well as the consistence and color of the pulp, and such characteristics of seeds as their size, surface texture and the rim width. The obtained results can be used for the taxa identification and for compiling the keys for identification of the Opuntioideae subfamily.