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The hexaploid and tetraploid semispecies, Opuntia lindheimeri, O. phaeacantha var. major, and O. edwardsii (x = 11), are known to hybridize in all combinations in central Texas; therefore, pentaploids are expected to occur. A search in four populations at two localities turned up at least one pentaploid individual (2n = 55) in each populations and a total of 13 pentaploid plants in the four populations. The pentaploids are mainly hybrids of O. lindheimeri (6x) x O. edwardsii (4x), and O. phaeacantha var. major (6x) x O. edwardsii (4x). These examples of pentaploidy in Opuntia can be added to the relatively few recorded cases of naturally occurring pentaploids in nonagamospermous angiosperms.
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Grant et al. (1982) studied this question.
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