| Habit |
Succulent
perennials |
| Stem: |
Usually green |
| Leaves: |
Often absent
and replaced by spines |
| Inflorescence: |
Solitary |
| Flower: |
Perfect, regular
or zygomorphic, epigynous |
| Perianth: |
Numerous parts |
| Calyx: |
Sepals spirally
arranged, intergrade to petals |
| Corolla: |
Petals spirally
arranged, intergrade to sepals |
| Hypanthium: |
Present |
| Androecium: |
numerous stamens,
often in the 100's |
| Gynoecium: |
Syncarpous |
| Ovary position: |
Inferior |
| Stigma: |
Not distinctive |
| Style: |
Usually branched |
| Fruit type: |
Berry |
| Other: |
This family is American
and another of those succulent families |
| Representatives: |
Opuntia, |
