BERBERIDACEAE -- Barberry Family - New Mexico Flores

Scientific Name:
Opuntia phaeacantha
Size:
20 -50 cm
CACTACEAE -- Cactus Family
Description:
Plants branched, generally along the ground,
forming clumps. Stem segments flattened,
round to obovate, 10 - 20 cm long, 8 - 18 cm
wide, 1 - 1.5 cm thick, blue-green. Leaves
conical, less than 9 mm long, falling early.
Spine nodes elliptical, 2 - 2.5 cm apart. Spines
1 - 10 on nodes of upper three-fourths of stem
segments, stout, straight, spreading or bent
backwards, round to flattened, tapered, yellow
or gray at tip, red or brown at base, with small
weaker spines below. Nodes also with fine,
barbed hair-like spines about 1 cm long, brown,
reddish, or yellowish brown. Flowers 6 - 8 cm
long, 6 - 8 cm in diameter, with spine nodes on
the exterior. Fruit obovate, smooth, fleshy, red
to purplish, 3 - 8 cm long, 2 - 4 cm in diameter.
174
Common Name:
Brown-spined prickly pear
Color:
Yellow
Notes:
The genus Opuntia is quite large and diverse.
Plants are very hardy and adaptable. The pad
size, flower size, plant size, spines, and other
features vary according to environmental
conditions, making these cacti a taxonomic
nightmare. O. phaeacantha blooms from May
into July between 4000 and 8000 ft.
New Mexico Native