Opuntia littoralis

Opuntia littoralis is a species of prickly pear cactus known by the common name coastal pricklypear. It is sometimes called the sprawling prickly pear due to its short stems and habit of growing close to the ground. "Littoral" means "pertaining to the seashore".[2]

Coastal pricklypear
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Cactaceae
Genus: Opuntia
Species:
O. littoralis
Binomial name
Opuntia littoralis
(Engelm.) Cockerell

Distribution

Opuntia littoralis is native to Southern California and Baja California, México, where it grows in coastal sage scrub[2] and chaparral habitats. It is also found offshore on the Islas Coronados, located south-southwest of Tijuana, Baja California and San Diego, California, as well as the California Channel Islands. This cactus is variable in appearance; there are several varieties and hybrids where similar species are mutually found.

Description

Opuntia littoralis generally grows in dense clumps spreading several meters wide and up to a meter-3 feet tall. The branches are made up of oval-shaped flat segments up to 22 centimetres (8.7 in) long. It is covered in clusters of yellowish spines 2 to 4 centimetres (0.79 to 1.57 in) long. The flowers are pale yellow[2] to dull red[3] occurring in May to June.[2] The fruit is purplish red and up to 5 centimetres (2.0 in) long. The fruit is edible.[2]

References
  1. Pinkava, D.J., Puente, R. & Baker, M. 2017. Opuntia littoralis (amended version of 2013 assessment). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2017: e.T152203A121582858. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T152203A121582858.en. Downloaded on 16 September 2021.
  2. Flowering Plants of the Santa Monica Mountains, Nancy Dale, 2nd Ed., 2000, p. 88
  3. Bruce D. Parfitt 2012, Opuntia littoralis, in Jepson Flora Project (eds.) Jepson eFlora, http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/eflora/eflora_display.php?tid=35277, accessed on April 08, 2018.
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