FloraFinder.org
Home   About Us   FAQ  
Searching   Image Use Plant Books
x
FloraFinder uses cookies only for correct operation. More info. Okay

Opuntia Mill.

Prickly pear cactus, prickly pear, cholla

KingdomPlantaePlants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae
SubkingdomTracheobiontaVascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients
DivisionMagnoliophytaFlowering plants, also known as angiosperms
ClassMagnoliopsidaDicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves
SubclassCaryophyllidaeCacti, many other succulents, carnivorous plants, and leadworts
OrderCaryophyllalesIncludes cacti, carnations, amaranths, ice plants, and many carnivorous plants
FamilyCactaceaeSucculent (water-storing) plants, often spiny
GenusOpuntiaPrickly pears

About plant names...

The large genus Opuntia includes prickly pear and beavertail cacti, both of which have stems that resemble paddles, many oval pads ½-1″ (1.3-2.5 cm) thick. Cholla used to be considered Opuntia as well, but they have been reclassified as members of Cylindropuntia. Botanists disagree as to whether Cylindropuntia should be a separate genus or a subgenus of Opuntia.

This table compares some members of Opuntia.

 

Opuntia Mill. (prickly pear cactus, prickly pear, cholla)

(Opuntia) · 7/11/1999 · Florissant and Lake George area, Colorado · By Tim Chandler Species not yet identified

 
Opuntia aurea

Opuntia engelmannii

Opuntia engelmannii var. cuija
Common Name

creeping beavertail

Engelmann prickly pear

tuna
Plant These plants are 4-12″ (10-30 cm) high, lying or growing close to the ground. Up to 6′ (1.8 m) high, usually lower; in spreading clumps up to 10′ (3 m) wide. Up to 8′ (2.4 m) high, usually lower; in spreading clumps up to 10′ (3 m) wide.
Flowers Yellow or pink, 1¾-3″ (5-7.5 cm) in size. Yellow to red. Yellow to red. About 2-3″ (5-7.6 cm) across.
Leaves Glochids are tan or brown, ⅛″ (3 mm) long. There are no spines unless it has introgressed with other species. Spines are 1-1½″ (2.5-3.8 cm) long, in groups of 1-6, groups about 1½″ (3.8 cm) apart. No spines or very short spines, spines are chalky white, sometimes yellow. Spines are 1-1½″ (2.5-3.8 cm) long, in groups of 2-6 (usually 3-5), groups about 1½″ (3.8 cm) apart. No spines or very short spines, spines are light yellow.
Stem Stem segments are ellipse- or egg-shaped, 1¾-4″ (5-10 cm) × 1-2″ (3-6 cm). Thick yellowish- or bluish-green pads up to 10″ (25 cm) long, less than 1" thick. Thick yellowish- or bluish-green pads up to 10″ (25 cm) long, less than 1" thick.
Fruit ½-⅞″ (1.5-2.5 cm) in diameter, green, without spines. Barrel-shaped, initially yellow-green, ripening to purple, up to 3″ (7.6 cm) long. No spines or very short spines, spines are chalky white, sometimes yellow. Barrel-shaped, initially yellow-green, ripening to purple, up to 3″ (7.6 cm) long.
Range/ Zones

Habitats Pinyon-juniper woodlands and red sands Desert scrub, grasslands, oak/pine/juniper woodlands Desert scrub, grasslands, oak/pine/juniper woodlands
Type Wild Wild Wild
Occurrence   Common  

 

 
Opuntia laevis

Opuntia macrocentra

Opuntia phaeacantha
Common Name

spineless prickly pear

long-spined prickly pear

desert prickly pear
Plant Low, usually prostrate. Up to 4′ (1.2 m) tall. Pads are purple or purple-tinged green. Forms spreading colonies up to 15′ (4.6 m) across.
Flowers Yellow. 2-3″ (5-7.6 cm).

 

1 to 8 yellow flowers with red centers, along the tops of pad. Flowers are 2-3″ (5-7.6 cm) in diameter. By Jodelet/Lépinay.

 

Bright yellow with pale red centers, peach-colored, pinkish, or reddish. Up to 3″ (7.6 cm) wide.
Leaves Spines may only occur on top portion of pads. 1-4 spines per group. Somewhat flattened, brown or white, often darker at the base. Sometimes has no spines, or groups of up to 15. Spines are up to 7″ (17 cm) long! Longer spines are reddish brown to black (or rarely, yellow to red), turning whitish with age. Spines are brown, reddish brown, or gray, up to 1½″ (3.8 cm) long. Pads and fruit also have tiny hairlike spines that detach easily and are difficult to remove from skin.
Fruit   Fruit is deep maroon or purple, oval or barrel-shaped, without spines. Fruits are red or purple, up to 2″ (5 cm) long.
Range/ Zones

USDA Zones: 7-10
Habitats   Desert uplands, grasslands, rocky and sandy areas  
Type Wild Wild Wild
Occurrence     Common

 

 
Opuntia santa-rita
Common Name

Santa Rita purple prickly pear
Plant Up to 7′ (2.1 m) high, may have a short trunk.
Flowers

 

Lemon yellow, becoming more orange as they age. Flowers occur on tops of pads. Photo by Stan Shebs.
Leaves Pads are 4-8″ (10-20 cm), tinged with purple; turning entirely purple when very dry. Spineless, or pink or reddish spines less than 1½″ (3.8 cm) long. There are also tiny reddish-brown, loosely attached spines called glochids, which are irritating and difficult to remove.
Fruit Barrel-shaped. Smooth. About 1″ (2.5 cm) x 1½″ (3.8 cm).
Range/ Zones

Habitats Elevations of 2,000-4,000 feet
Type Wild

 

Online References:

Wikipedia (Opuntia)

PlantSystematics.org (Opuntia)

Desert-tropicals.com (Opuntia)

The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum Center for Sonoran Desert Studies

Opuntiads of the USA

EFloras

References:

Britton, Nathaniel Lord, Rose, J. N., The Cactaceae: Descriptions and Illustrations of Plants of the Cactus Family, Press of Gibson Brothers, 1919

Bowers, Nora and Rick; Tekiela, Stan, Cactus of Arizona Field Guide, Adventure Publications Inc., 2008

 

Opuntia description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 16 Sep 2020.

© FloraFinder.org. All rights reserved.


 

Opuntia Mill. (prickly pear cactus, prickly pear, cholla)

(Opuntia) · 2/24/2010 · San Diego (Quail) Botanic Garden, Encinitas, Cali­fornia Species not yet identified

Opuntia Mill. (prickly pear cactus, prickly pear, cholla)

Prickly pear cactus (Opuntia) · 5/22/2009 · Red Rock Loop, Ari­zona Species not yet identified

Range:

About this map...