BIS 3003 FLIPBOOK

Opuntia humifusa

BIS3003 CASE STUDY REPORT

NURATIQAH BINTI ISMAIL
S61947

Table of Contents

TAXONOMY 1-3

MORPHOLOGY and physiology 4-7

SPECIAL CHARACTERISTICS 8-11

HABITAT AND ADAPTATION 12-15

REFERENCES 16-18

Taxonomy

1

Domain Eukaryota 2
kingdom Plantae
phylum
Magnoliophyta
class
order Magnoliopsida
family Caryophyllales
genus
species Cactaceae
Opuntia

Opuntia humifusa

Domain Eukaryota An organism with a true nucleus and membrane-bound
kingdom Plantae organelles.
phylum Multicellular organisms with a cell wall and chloroplasts,
Magnoliophyta they are also photosynthesize.
class Magnoliopsida Flowering plants with fruit covered seeds (dominant
sporophyte).

Dicotyledons (have two embryonic cotyledons).

order Caryophyllales Penhvyisrioonlomgeicnatlsly. adapted to survive in extreme
family Cactaceae Belongs to the cactus family.

genus Opuntia PPraidckdllye Psehaarpsepdeccieasc.ti consisting almost entirely of the
species
Eastern Prickly Pear Cactus, found in Northeastern North
America and Southern Canada.
3Opuntia humifusa

MORPHOLOGY
AND

PHYSIOLOGY

4

STRUCTURE and
reproduction

Opuntia humifusa species are spreading cacti, ranging from small low-growing shrubs to treelike specimens reaching 5
CRmeoeamtdepirloyssoreerdpmrooofdrfleuacitnejohaiensietgsxh,utwa. iltlhy,paandddtleh-elipkaedcdlaledsocdaens (bpeheoatosislyynrtohoetteidc sfoter mcuslteivgamtieonnt.sIn) aardisdinitgioonnteoflroonmgethr espeinndeso, ftahneoctlahdero.des
bear characteristic glochidia—small bristles with backward-facing barbs in the areoles.
The flowers are commonly yellow, pink, or orange in color, and many feature stamens that move in response to touch, a
trait that is thought to increase the pollen load of insect pollinators.
The fruit is typically a reddish berry, often armed with spines.
OMThpaeugnpntoailadiosphtshuiedmmaif,suiteslpavreoshdaruissceessferbovermirgabhlut dmyseelolaofnfwos, fptoohflleersnet-peprmroododurucoctitinohgne.rfloeBxweiiesntrgisn. gapnadasn.giosperm, flowering plant, and a part of the
The bright-colored flowers attract insects such as bumblebees. When the bee lands on the flower, the anthers of the plant
release pollen which sticks to the bee. As it travels from plant to plant, this pollen gets transferred with it.
Other than using pollen as a means of reproduction, this plant also reproduces sexually through seeds.
The seeds are produced through an alternation of generations including haploid and diploid stages of meiosis and mitosis.
TThhee sseeeeddss eanredpurpopteacstseindgbtyharoburgighhtthreedb-ircdo'slodriegdesfrtuivite. Tsyhsetseemfr,utihtussabreeionfgtedniscpoenrssuemd uepdobnydaeefreiacal otirogna.nisms such as birds.

FigureO1p:uLnatbiaelhleudmdiifaugsraam of FiguOrep2un: Btiiardhhuemlpifsusinadsiesepdesrsing Figure 3 : Thhuembifuudsaof Opuntia 5

FLOWER

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shape, greenish, and somewhat fleshy-scaly in appearance.
WEahcehnftlohweeflrohwaesrsseavreerfaulllpyeotpaelsn, ,ntuhmeyeraorues2s-t3a"maecnross, as.nd an inferior ovary with a single style.
Mature petals are light yellow to yellow and satiny in appearance. Sometimes, the bases of
iTnhneerfilpaemtaelnsttsoowfatrhdethsteacmenetnesraorfeeayechllofwlowtoerpaarlee oorraannggee-, rwehdi.le their anthers are yellow. At
the apex of the style, there is a narrow ring of short stigmas; these stigmas are white. to
Tphaelebyleololomwi.ng period occurs during early summer, lasting about 3-4 weeks for a colony of
plants. Each flower is diurnal, lasting only a single day.

Figuhruem4if:uTshaefrfloomwetrhoefaObpouvnetia Figuhreum5 :ifTuhseafflroowmerthoef Osipduentia 6

FRUIT

FigOurpeu6nt: iTahheurmedifufrsuait of The flowers are replaced by sessile fruits.
Mature fruits are 1¼–2" long and ½–¾" across, dull red to
creodndciasvhe-barpoiwcens,. and oblanceolate-oblongoid in shape with
Each fruit contains several seeds in a fleshy interior.
Dfleesphenodf itnhgesoen frtuhietsloiscaglreeecnottyopreedanadndsteaigtheeor fsoriupre, nbelasns,dt, hoer
sweet.

SEED

Each individual seeds are about 4 mm. long, tan to dark brown, FOigpuurent7ia: Thhuemsiefuesdaof
globoid, and somewhat flattened in shape.
Tmhaerrgeinisofaenaachrrosewedri.dge along at least one-half of the outer
The root system is fibrous and spreading. Upper pads
oScuccahsidoentaalclyhberdeapkadosff fcraonmdloewveelroppandes,wfarlloinogtstointhtehgeroguronudn. d,
creating new plants that are clonal offsets.

7

SPECIAL
CHARACTERISTICS

8

REPRODUCE ASEXUALLY
AND THROUGH AN

ALTERNATION OF GENERATIONS

Oropoutnetdiafohr ucmultifivuasatiocna. n produce asexually, the paddles can be easily FiguorfeO8p:uBneteias hounmthifeusflaower
Both long-tongued and short-tongued bees visit the flowers, including
(bMuemlibssleobdeeess,stphpe.)L, alregaef-Ccaurtptienngtebr eBeese ((XMyelgoacochpialevirsgpipn.i)c, aH),adliicgtgider bbeeeess
(including green metallic bees), and plasterer bees (Colletes spp.).
LSohnogrt--ttoonngguueeddbbeeeessscuoclklencetcptoalrleonrocnollyle. ct pollen.
The larger bees are more likely to cause cross-pollination
Bseuet,dist. is faster and easier to start new plants using pads, rather than
Detached pads form new roots in the ground readily.
Thhumis iidsittyh,eaenadsiceostldcawcintutesrtowegarothwebr.eIctaaulsseo obfloitosmtoslemraonrceerteoliambolyistthuaren,
most cacti.

9

medical and food purposes

aO(BlpcPuoHnh)to. iIlat ihshauanmlgsoiofuvusesare,dicstouolistfeiigsd,hfdtoivarirrtaryhlpeineaf,e2cadtniioadnbbse.etensig, nhigphrocshtoalteicstehryopl,eortbreospithyy,
In foods, the juice is used in jellies and candies.

HOW DOES IT WORKS medically ?

Opuntia humifusa contains fiber and pectin, which can lower blood
iSgnloutmecsoetsinereesb. eyardcehcerresasthiningktthheatabitsmoripgthiot nalsoof sugar in the stomach and
decrease cholesterol levels, FOigpuurent9ia: Thhuemjuifiucseaof

and kill viruses in the body.

10

medical effectiveness

Diabetes

Single doses of Opuntia humifusa can decrease blood sugar levels
bdayil1y7%usteoc4a6n%coinnssiosmteentplyeolopwlee.rHbolowoedvesru,gitarislenvoetlsk. nown if extended

Hangover.

Taking Opuntia humifusa before drinking alcohol might reduce
some symptoms of a hangover the next day. It seems to
sdiogensificnaonttlysereemducteo nraeudsuecae, aonthoererxihaa, nagnodvedrrysymmoputtohm. Hsowsuecvher,aist
headache, dizziness, diarrhea, or soreness.

side effects

TOhpeunletaiavehsu,mstifeumsas,isflolikweelyrss, afrfueiwt, haenndesattaenndaasrdfoizoedd. extracts of it
are possibly safe when taken by mouth as medicine in
Oapppurnotpiariahtuemaimfusoaunctasnfocraaussheorstopmeeriosdidoef etifmfeec.ts including mild
diarrhea, nausea, increased amount and frequency of stool,
bloating, and headache when are not consumed accordingly.

11

HABITAT AND
ADAPTATION

12

HABITAT

Opuntia humifusa grows in dry sandy areas that are relatively open and sunny.
It cannot grow in complete shade.
OItpisufnotuiandhuomn isfausnadyococpuernsinogcscaosniodnraylslyoimn eatbimouetsofnoere-shtaeldf o, hf itllhseidceosuanntdieisninduIlnlinesoinse. ar beaches.
It is most likely to be found in sandy or hilly areas along the Mississippi and Illinois rivers, in hilly
Mcaoroemsatmspooonfpscuoaluacttthiuoesnrisnn oIIllflliinntoohiiisss,. and sandy or rocky areas of northern Illinois. This is by far the most
plant are native, although some local populations are the result of
rTpeyrsaptiirocireaasl t, ihgoarnabevitfeaflotprstrsainoircrieluosdc, cebaaosriproeennnasilneagsnscdainrpoecsskafynrodbmylufcwfuso,ltosidvaalnatdniosdtnso.,nseaannddy lismaveastnonnaes,gslaadneds, psraanirdiedsu, nheisll
acTehlomeneggtrLeearakietees,sMptiacthshtirguearaentssa, antndodotsthahenedrsuyarroverivagasr,larovofeclktlyhyiasorrepsalaasnnatdlyoansreglorptaheielsroadaleodsnstg.rumctaiojonr rivers and lakes, sandy
development and the invasion of its habitat by woody vegetation. of habitat by modern

Figure o10n:sOapnudnytaiarehaumifusa 13

adaptation Figure 11fl:eOsphyunptaiadshumifusa

FLESHY pad 14

Opuntia humifusa is a dessert plant that has adapted to survive in
Tsehxhaterpeleemaavenecdsoaonrfdetihtcieoonvpesr.ricekdlywpitehasrpsianrees ufosrupaellyrffolarmttienngepdhaontdospyandtdhlees-ilsik. e in
The fleshy pads are actually modified branches or stems and can
sTthoeresplainregse, aomr noeuendtlseso,fawreatmero. dified leaves.
Their relatively small size and sparse surface area are an adaptation
tdheasterhteelpnsvirtohnempelanntt, atnodctoonrseedrvuecewtartaenrs, pairparteiocnio. us commodity in the
Since the habitat for the prickly pear cactus is not plentiful of water, it
iTshiims pisodrotannetbtyhaotpwenaitnegr tisocsotnosmearvteada. t night when the air is cooler and
less water will evaporate.
iTshsetocarerdboinnscidoelletchteedcaacttunsiguhnttiisl tthheensucnonrviseerstetdo tporoovrigdaenticheacpirdowduhcicths
of the light reactions.

adaptation

spines

Opuntia humifusa has clusters of tiny, barbed spines called glochids
lTloohdceaggteeldodcinjhutisdhtseaasbrkoeinvdeoiftffhiaceunrltaentgoiumlsaaerel.s, painndest.hus hard to remove if they become

Figure 12 : Osppuinnetsia humifusa 15

vegetative reproduction

Creating seeds and flowering take up a lot of resources.
Benyedrogiynagntdhirsesfoorumrcoesf aeslseexwuahlerreepfroordsuucrtviiovnal.the plant is able to use the
This also ensures the survival of the species because new seedlings are
Ofranlgyilae samndalvleproyrstiuosnceopf stiebeledstogethrme hinaartsehteonbviercoonmmeenfutl.l-grown plants.

REFERENCES

16

LIST OF REFERENCES

1) Eastern prickly pear cactus. (n.d.). Retrieved December 10, 2021, from
https://www.ontario.ca/page/eastern-prickly-pear-cactus

2) Eastern Prickly Pear Cactus. (n.d.). Retrieved December 14, 2021, from
https://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/prairie/plantx/prickly_pearx.htm

3) Opuntia. (n.d.). Retrieved December 15, 2021, from
https://www.britannica.com/plant/Opuntia

4) Opuntia humifusa. (n.d.). Retrieved December 14, 2021, from
https://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/cactus/opuhum/all.html

5) Opuntia humifusa (Raf.) Raf. (n.d.). Retrieved December 15, 2021, from
https://gobotany.nativeplanttrust.org/species/opuntia/humifusa/

6) Ozarkedgewildflowers.com. (n.d.). Retrieved December 13, 2021, from
https://ozarkedgewildflowers.com/summer-wildflowers/prickly-pear-cactus-opuntia-
humifusa/

7) Prickly Pear. (n.d.). Retrieved December 12, 2021, from
https://kids.britannica.com/students/article/prickly-pear/333732

8) Prickly Pear Cactus (Opuntia chlorotica). (n.d.). Retrieved December 11, 2021, from
http://bioweb.uwlax.edu/bio203/s2012/stein_made/Adaptation.htm

17

9) Prickly Pear Cactus: Health Benefits, Side Effects, Uses, Dose & Precautions. (2021, June 11).
Rhtettprise:/v/ewdww.rxlist.com/priDcekclye_mpbeearr_cactus/supplem12e, nts.htm 2021, from

1h0tt)ps://Uw.Sw.w.fs.fFeodr.eusst/wildfSloewrveicrse/.plan(tn-.odf.)-.the-Rweeterike/voepduntiaD_ehcuemmifbuesra.shtm14l, 2021, from

1h1t)tp://biowEaesbt.uewrnlaPxr.iecdkuly/bPieoa2r0C3a/2ct0u1s0/Oopsutenrtbiarih_usmariafu/scala. s(nsi.dfi.c).aRteiotnri.hevtmed December 16, 2021, from

18

"be like cactus, that can survive
in the midst of impossibility"