Opuntia humifusa

Opuntia humifusa
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Core eudicots
Order:	Caryophyllales
Family:	Cactaceae
Genus:	Opuntia
Species:	O. humifusa
Binomial name
Opuntia humifusa (Raf.) Raf.

Opuntia humifusa, commonly known as the Eastern Prickly Pear or Indian Fig, is a native cactus found in most of eastern North America. It ranges from Montana eastward to southern Ontario and then on to Massachusetts, south to Florida and westward to New Mexico.

The green stems of this low-growing perennial cactus are flattened and are formed of segments. Barbed bristles are found around the surfaces of the segments and longer spines are sometimes present. The flowers are yellow to gold in color and are found along the margins of mature segments. The flowers are waxy and sometimes have red centers. They measure 4-6 cm wide and bloom in the late spring.

The juicy and edible red fruits measure from 3-5 cm. As the fruit matures, it changes colour from green to red, and often remains on the cactus until the following spring. There are 6 to 33 small, flat, light-colored seeds in each fruit.

This plant is very intolerant of shade. It thrives in full sun and well-drained soil.

Some botanists treat this cactus as a variety Opuntia compressa var. humifusa, or a synonym of Opuntia compressa. Those recognizing this species treat Opuntia rafinesquii as a junior synonym.

Gallery

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  Close-up of yellow barbed bristles and longer spines

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  The fruit of the Eastern Prickly Pear

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  Eastern Prickly Pear growing wild in northern Illinois (partial shade)

References

• Speciesatrisk.gc.ca entry for Eastern Prickly Pear
• Florida's Forest Plants - Prickly pear
• Opuntia humifusa images at bioimages.vanderbilt.edu

External links

• Flowering Opuntia humifusa