About Opuntia galapageia Hensl.
One variety of this species, Opuntia galapageia var. myriacantha (which has the synonym Opuntia galapageia var. echios), produces some of the longest spines of any cactus, reaching up to 25 cm (10 in) long. Only Ferocactus emoryi ssp. rectispinus has longer spines, which can grow to 33 cm (13 in). Opuntia galapageia is endemic to the Galápagos Islands. Different forms of the species that grow on separate Galápagos islands have been classified as subtaxa of O. galapageia. Island distribution records for this species from Plants of the World Online are as follows:
