Detachable, irritating spines on cacti of the sub-family Opuntioideae
For larval stage in bivalves, see Glochidium.
Glochids and spines on a species of Opuntia. The spines are the relatively large, radiating organs; the glochids are the fine prickles in the centres of the bunches.Glochids (Opuntia microdasys monstrose)
Glochids or glochidia (sg.: "glochidium") are hair-like spines or short prickles, generally barbed, found on the areoles of cacti in the sub-family Opuntioideae. Cactus glochids easily detach from the plant and lodge in the skin, causing irritation upon contact. The tufts of glochids in the areoles nearly cover the stem surfaces of some cactus species, each tuft containing hundreds of glochids; this may be in addition to, or instead of, the larger, more conspicuous cactus spines, which do not readily detach and are not generally barbed.
Glochids or glochidia (sg.: "glochidium") are hair-like spines or short prickles, generally barbed, found on the areoles of cacti in the sub-family Opuntioideae...
Opuntioideae have spines, as well as glochids, on their areoles; some have only glochids. Structurally, the glochids seem to be bristles rather than evolved...
long and 4–12 cm broad. Instead of spines it has numerous white or yellow glochids 2–3 mm long in dense clusters. They are barbed and thinner than the finest...
containing large, smooth, fixed spines and small, hairlike prickles called glochids that readily adhere to skin or hair, then detach from the plant. The flowers...
morphologically a specialised branch; the region of a cactus upon which spines, glochids, and flowers are borne. aril A membranous or fleshy appendage formed by...
thin and four to ten inches long. The widely spaced areoles have brownish glochids. The straight thorn (rarely two to three are present) is brown and between...
members of the subfamily Opuntioideae have relatively short spines, called glochids, that are barbed along their length and easily shed. These enter the skin...
are 6 to 40 cm long and 5 to 13 cm wide. From the areoles emerging brown glochids, 2 to 4 millimeters long, with two to seven spines that are sometimes missing...
a profusion of red-brown glochids. The common name blind prickly pear or cow blinder comes from the fact that the glochids may be carried away by the...
'Ellisiana' is a special selection of O. cacanapa that has no spines and no glochids. Thus, it is smooth to the touch. It is moderately cold and hardy and is...
sub-family Opuntioideae feature fine, loosely attached short spines called glochids. When the plant is disturbed many of these spines fall off and penetrate...
Mexico. The name comes from the Greek tri- and glochidium, meaning "three glochids." Although it is favored by hummingbirds for pollination, its flowers are...
least near the edges and towards the apex. They carry striking, yellow glochids that are 2 to 6 mm (0.079 to 0.236 inches) long. The 1 to 5 awl-shaped...
small and soon fall off. The areoles have white hairs and later develop glochids.Its white areoles bear one or two small brown upright spines. The 1 to...
segments tall. It has large white spines, and a low layer of reddish-brown glochids, which break off in the skin if touched. It produces a yellow and red flower...
round. The characteristic areoles of cacti are present, and usually have glochids marking them as members of the Opuntioideae as well as needle-like spines...
is typical for Opuntia species, have many small barbed bristles, called glochids, that easily penetrate the skin. Opuntia basilaris blooms from spring to...
spoon-shaped leaves covered in white hairs. These white hairs, known as glochids, can cause irritation to the skin if touched. In spring it bears 30 cm...
long. The areoles, highly reduced branch structures from which spines and glochids grow, are dark in color and can be found arranged in diagonal rows on the...
to 9 centimeters wide. The areoles with dark color support grey-yellow glochids, with long white hairs of trichome. The areoles also support thorns 2 to...
blue-green), obovate to round, about 15–30 cm long and 12–20 cm wide. The glochids are yellow initially, then brown with age. Spines are extremely variable...
leather gardening gloves. The stems and fruits also have many spines or "glochids" about 1 mm (0.04 in) long that can detach and stick in the skin. There...
The specific name also means "covered with small pins". It has numerous glochids or microspines, 3–12 mm long, acicular, slender, spreading, forming a dense...
Synapomorphies of Opuntioideae include small deciduous, barbed spines called glochids born on areoles and a bony aril surrounding a campylotropous ovule (inverted...
from 0 to 6 per areole, and are usually white. Glochids are in tight white to yellowish clumps. Glochids and spines tend to increase in number and length...
spatulate and up to 7 centimeters long. Their areoles are covered with glochids and numerous spines. The almost terminal or terminal appearing, striking...
by 7+1⁄8 in) wide. Its areoles are tipped with woolly brown fibers and glochids. Many of the areoles have spines which are quite variable in size and shape...
elliptical white or yellow areoles turn gray and bear conspicuous yellow glochids that are 3 to 4 millimeters long. The six to 22 spines are present on almost...
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