Citation: DC., Prod. 3:471 (1828).

Synonymy: Cereus imbricatus Haw., Rev. Pl. Succ. 70 (1821); Cylindropuntia imbricata (Haw.)F. Knuth in Backeb. & F. Knuth, Kaktus-ABC 125 (1935); O. decipiens DC., Mém. Mus. Hist. Nat. Paris 17:118 (1828); O. arborescens Engelm. in Wisliz., Mere. Tour. North. Mex. 90 (1848).

Common name: Devils rope, devils rope pear, chain-link cactus.

Description:
Tree-like, to 3.5 m high, with a cylindrical woody trunk c. 7 cm or more diam.; joints terete, cylindrical, 8-20 cm long, 2.5-3 cm diam., covered with laterally compressed tubercles; leaves deciduous; spines 6-30, brownish to white, to 4 cm long, covered with papery sheaths.

flowers pink to purple or rose, c. 7 cm across; style white; stamens purple.

Fruits dry, glabrous, yellowish, to 4 cm long, tuberculate.

	Opuntia imbricata
Image source: fig 189b in Jessop J.P. & Toelken H.R. (Ed.) 1986. Flora of South Australia (4th edn).

Published illustration: Cunningham et al. (1982) Plants of western New South Wales, p. 503.

Distribution:    Native to central U.S.A. and Mexico. Conservation status: naturalised Flowering time: late spring — summer.

SA Distribution Map based on current data relating to specimens held in the State Herbarium of South Australia

Biology: No text

Author: Not yet available