Picardae and microcarpa
In 2018, Majure and Clase argued for the name Consolea microcarpa. They considered Engelmann's earlier use of Opuntia microcarpa provisional, which in their interpretation removed the obstacle to Schumann's later name. POWO instead accepts C. picardae and places C. microcarpa in synonymy. The atlas consistently uses POWO's name while retaining original nomenclature when describing studies. [Majure and Clase 2018] [2-WWW]
The dispute concerns name priority and validity, rather than discovery of two different plants based solely on the sound of an epithet. Searching either name leads to this profile. The scope of field material described before C. intermedia was separated in 2023 must be assessed through specimens and sites rather than automatically matching an old label to a newer species list. [Majure and Clase 2018] [2-WWW]
Habit and flower traits
Material described as C. microcarpa in the 2018 paper formed trees from about 3 m to over 10 m tall. Mature segments were dark green, glossy and mostly spineless or lightly armed near the margins. Young growth and plants could be much more heavily armed. The adult segment surface therefore has a different diagnostic value from a young cutting's appearance. [Majure and Clase 2018]
The pericarpel was described as spineless, though it could have conspicuous glochids. This trait, tall habit and green stem surface distinguished the plants examined from low, glaucous green C. falcata with a spiny pericarpel. The older genus key also considered partial fusion of outer staminal filaments. [Majure and Clase 2018] [Areces-Mallea 2001]
Habitat and fruit
POWO lists western and southern Hispaniola. Majure and Clase described sites from 5 to 957 m above sea level, often with more soil and organic matter and denser vegetation than the open, strongly xeric sites of C. moniliformis. This is a regional comparison of environments and does not establish a need for constantly wet substrate in cultivation. [2-WWW] [Majure and Clase 2018]
The authors found distinctly different fruit forms within one population, both containing viable seeds. A large fruit alone need not indicate a different species, just as a small fruit does not always confirm the literal meaning of the name microcarpa. Assessment requires a combined comparison of stems, flowers, fruit and origin. [Majure and Clase 2018]
Cytology and reproductive organ development
Material identified as C. picardae from the Dominican Republic had 2n = 66 in the study by Negrón-Ortiz. In anther studies, the species was the main example illustrating fertile and arrested development. Functionally female flowers showed degeneration of pollen mother cells early in meiosis and changes in the tapetal layer. [Negrón-Ortiz 2007] [Strittmatter et al. 2006]
The study of ovules also showed that shifts in developmental timing contributed to differentiation of sexual function. In the male individuals studied, ovules usually lost function before the flower opened. Occasional retention of fertile ovules does not justify treating any individual as a reliable maternal plant for seed production. [Strittmatter et al. 2008]
Synonyms and names in the literature
Consolea microcarpa · Opuntia microcarpa · Opuntia picardae [2-WWW]