Latinization of Nahuatl nopalxochitl ‘opuntia flower’ or nopalxochicuezaltic ‘scarlet opuntia flower’, Aztec names of Disocactus species mentioned by Francisco Hernández de Toledo (1514-1587) in Historia de las Plantas de Nueva España. Not, as Helmut Genaust (Etymologisches Wörterbuch der botanischen Pflanzennamen. 3. Auflage. 1996) claims, from “nopalnochitzli” (nopalnochetzli), which is Opuntia ficus-indica.
Nopalxochicuezaltic (Nopalxochia (Disocactus) ackermannii?). Image credit: Francisco Hernández de Toledo, Historia de las Plantas de Nueva España
“Botanical Latin is essentially a written language, but the scientific names of plants often occur in speech. How they are pronounced really matters little provided they sound pleasant and are understood by all concerned.”
Maarten H.J. van der Meer (2022 Feb 05). Nopalxochia. Dictionary of Cactus Names. Retrieved from https://www.cactusnames.org/nopalxochia