Micropuntia

Jedna linia pod wieloma nazwami

The accepted species is Micropuntia pulchella, previously described as Opuntia pulchella, Corynopuntia pulchella and Grusonia pulchella. Variation in segment length and shape and in spines also led to description of numerous narrowly defined Micropuntia taxa. Their names are now listed in this species' synonymy. [Griffith 2002] [2-WWW]

Cechy budowy

The plant forms a low cushion of stems clustered around a shared axis. The enlarged underground organ may retain areoles and glochids, traits associated with shoot organisation. Griffith also highlighted slender segments, persistent areolar wool and the direction of small barbs on fruit spines. This set of traits differs from the typical picture of Grusonia. [Griffith 2002]

How reconstruction of relatedness changed

In the ITS analysis, Griffith obtained a group of M. pulchella samples distinct from the other grusonias studied, with weaker resolution of deeper relationships. Bárcenas's 2016 analysis of three plastid markers placed the species beside Pereskiopsis. A later, much larger plastome analysis identified Micropuntia as sister to the Grusonia + Cylindropuntia group. [Griffith 2002] [Bárcenas 2016] [Majure et al. 2019]

Both plastid studies support the distinctness of Micropuntia but differ in the reconstructed branching position. Comparison involves marker coverage, sampling and branch support. In the 2016 study, only two species represented Pereskiopsis, which the author identified as an important sampling feature. [Bárcenas 2016] [Majure et al. 2019]

Sources for this account

Article2002

Grusonia pulchella classification and its impacts on the genus Grusonia: Morphological and molecular evidence

Griffith M. P., Grusonia pulchella classification and its impacts on the genus Grusonia: Morphological and molecular evidence, Haseltonia, 2002, 9:86-93

Morphological and molecular evidence for the distinctness of Micropuntia pulchella, discussed in the title as Grusonia pulchella. The study compares growth form, the underground organ, fruit spines and nuclear ITS sequences, and presents a new name combination.

GenusPhysiology and anatomyMicropuntia

Copy in the supplied material

Article2019

Phylogenomics in Cactaceae: A case study using the chollas sensu lato (Cylindropuntieae, Opuntioideae) reveals a common pattern out of the Chihuahuan and Sonoran deserts

Majure L. C., Baker M. A., Cloud-Hughes M., Salywon A., Neubig K. M., Phylogenomics in Cactaceae: A case study using the chollas sensu lato (Cylindropuntieae, Opuntioideae) reveals a common pattern out of the Chihuahuan and Sonoran deserts, American Journal of Botany, 2019, 106(10):1327-1345, doi: 10.1002/ajb2.1364

The plastid genome analysis reconstructs relationships among chollas and other Cylindropuntieae. It includes biogeography, estimates of lineage ages and the evolution of morphological traits. The repeated emergence of similar traits explains some discrepancies between traditional divisions and the molecular tree.

Physiology and anatomyGenusCylindropuntiaGrusoniaMicropuntiaPereskiopsisQuiabentia

DOI ↗Article or source page ↗

[2-WWW]Source website

Plants of the World Online — Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

https://powo.science.kew.org/

Accepted names, synonyms and distribution. A citation beside a taxon leads to its record.

Accessed 2026-10-08.

Article2016

A molecular phylogenetic approach to the systematics of Cylindropuntieae (Opuntioideae, Cactaceae)

Bárcenas R. T., A molecular phylogenetic approach to the systematics of Cylindropuntieae (Opuntioideae, Cactaceae), Cladistics, 2016, 32(4):351-359, doi: 10.1111/cla.12135

The analysis of three plastid regions clarifies generic boundaries in Cylindropuntieae. It discusses the removal of Micropuntia pulchella from Grusonia and four lineages within Cylindropuntia. The position of Micropuntia can be compared with the later plastome analysis by Majure and co-authors.

GenusPhysiology and anatomyCylindropuntiaGrusoniaMicropuntia