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Opuntia humifusa (Raf.) Raf. Opuntia compressa J.F. Macbr. var. microsperma (Engelm. & J.M. Bigelow) L.D. Benson Opuntia calcicola Wherry Opuntia compressa auct. non J.F. Macbr. Opuntia compressa J.F. Macbr. var. allairei (Griffiths) D. Weniger nom. nud. Opuntia compressa J.F. Macbr. var. fuscoatra (Engelm.) D. Weniger nom. nud. Opuntia cumulicola Small Opuntia humifusa (Raf.) Raf. var. humifusa Opuntia rafinesquei Engelm. Opuntia compressa J.F. Macbr. var. microsperma (Engelm. & Bigelow) L.D. Benson Eastern prickly pear
Eastern prickly pear is widespread in eastern North America. I first encountered these in an outdoor botanical garden in Massachusetts (I have since seen them on sandy soil in urban environments), and I was amazed to learn that there are cacti that grow that far north. Plants: These cacti form low shrubs, sometimes lying very close to the ground and looking rather unhealthy. Oval stem segments resembling Mickey Mouse ears are green to red-purple, 1½-4" (4-10 cm) by 1½-2" (4-6 cm), and about ⅜" (1 cm) thick. Only the upper areoles have spines, which are gray or brownish and ¾-1¾" (2-5 cm) long. (Sometimes there are no spines.) Flowers: Yellow flowers are up to 1" (3 cm) in diameter. The purplish or reddish fruits, called tunas, are ½-1½" (1.5-4 cm) long. Fruits: Mature fruits are 1½-2" (3.8-5 cm) long and ½-¾" (1.3-1.9 cm) across, dull red to reddish brown, and oblanceoloid-oblongoid in shape. Edibility: The egg-shaped fruits are edible, and taste a little like watermelon. References:
Anderson, Edward F., The Cactus Family, Timber Press, 2001, p. 501 Online References:
Opuntia humifusa at Illinois Wildflowers Opuntia humifusa on floridata.com Opuntia humifusa on the USDA Plants Database Opuntia humifusa on the USDA Forest Service's Fire Effects Information Database Opuntia humifusa on the Virginia Tech Weed Identification Guide Opuntia humifusa at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center Opuntia humifusa on Wikipedia Opuntia humifusa on the Connecticut Botanical Society's Connecticut wildflowers site Opuntia humifusa on eFloras
5/15/2010 · Garden in the Woods, Framingham, MA Opuntia humifusa description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 25 May 2020.
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6/22/2017 · Garden in the Woods, Framingham, MA
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9/11/2020 · Garden in the Woods, Framingham, MA
6/15/2010 · Garden in the Woods, Framingham, MA
6/22/2017 · Garden in the Woods, Framingham, MA
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