Around my area (NE Mediterranean coast) you can find a red flower cactus whose description matches with Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Mill. However, I have found some cases where it has yellow flowers. In both cases, all other morphological traits are quite similar.
Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Mill., O. maxima Mill. and O. paraguayensis K. Schum. are considered synonyms according to some authors. Today, The Plant List separates the three taxa:
http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl1.1/record/kew-2391911
http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl1.1/record/kew-2391633
http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl1.1/record/tro-5107240
Considering the complexity of the group, I wonder if only because of the different color of the flower, in the case described, might be considreed two separated species, or just two varieties of O. ficus-indica.
I must also say that the name O. paraguayensis has been misapplied as a synonym of O. elata. This aspect is discussed in the following two papers (Leuenberger, 2001) and (Pyke, 2008):
http://www.bgbm.org/sites/default/files/documents/Vol%2B31%2Bp%2B181-187.pdf
http://collectaneabotanica.revistas.csic.es/index.php/collectaneabotanica/article/viewFile/8/8?origin=publication_detail (spanish)
http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl1.1/record/kew-2391911
http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl1.1/record/kew-2391633
http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl1.1/record/tro-5107240
http://www.bgbm.org/sites/default/files/documents/Vol%2B31%2Bp%2B181-187.pdf
http://collectaneabotanica.revistas.csic.es/index.php/collectaneabotanica/article/viewFile/8/8?origin=publication_detail
Dear Carlos,
When my teacher showed me Opuntia ficus-indica for the first time it was around my neighborhood (Barcelona). Since that moment, every year I can see new flowers in different individuals. Their flowers are always like orange. Now, looking for information I see that is more common to find yellow flowers in this species, so I guess this polymorphism for the color of the flower is probably not a good treat to determine this species.
I agree with you. But because information about Opuntia is sometimes confusing or incomplete, it's possible that they were two taxa, even at infraspecific level.
I just want to know if there is a chance that way or that these are only two varieties or two different phenotypic expressions.
Thank you very much for your contribution.
It is better to make a comparative study of the morphological characters of these two variants in details, I am sure you will come to a conclusion.
I agree with Mr. Bhellum, but someone nows, If makes a morphological and anathomical comparative study by transmission electronic microscopy?
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