Opuntia phaeacantha

Opuntia phaeacantha is a species of prickly pear cactus known by the common names brown-spine prickly pear, tulip prickly pear, and desert prickly pear found across the southwestern United States, lower Great Plains, and northern Mexico. The plant forms dense but localized thickets. Several varieties of this particular species occur, and it may hybridize with other prickly pears, making identification sometimes tricky.

Opuntia phaeacantha
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Cactaceae
Genus: Opuntia
Species:
O. phaeacantha
Binomial name
Opuntia phaeacantha

Description

Opuntia phaeacantha has a mounding habit of flattened green pads. The pads are protected by clusters of spines. Each cluster bearing 1-4 spines. The spines are brown, reddish-brown, yellowish, or gray, usually darker brownish toward the base than the tip, and often over 3 cm in length. At the base of the spine cluster is a round tuft of easily detached yellowish to reddish or brown bristles called Glochids. Glochids are also present on the fruit. This is the source for the plants common name "prickly pear".

The flowers are bright yellow with a pale green to orange or red center. In some regions occasional plants may produce flowers of other colors such as orange, pink, or magenta. The edible fruits are usually red or purple with a pink seedy flesh. The fruit has a mild watermelon or pear flavor. Both the fruit and the fleshy pads provide an important food resource for desert wildlife.

  • Typical yellow flower ►
    Typical yellow flower ►
  • Plant with light spine color and fruit
    Plant with light spine color and fruit

This plant, like other Opuntia species, is attacked by cactus moth.

Other common names for this species, and ones which are now considered variants of this species, include plateau prickly-pear, New Mexico prickly-pear, and Kingman prickly-pear.

The species is widespread, from California south to Mexico and the Southwest United States. There are multiple variations and perhaps these will be described as varieties or full species some day.[2]

Uses

The cactus can be prepared as food in a similar fashion to Opuntia humifusa.[3]

References
  1. Terry, M., Heil, K., Gómez-Hinostrosa, C. & Corral-Díaz, R. 2017. Opuntia phaeacantha (amended version of 2013 assessment). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2017: e.T152851A121613191. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T152851A121613191.en. Downloaded on 16 September 2021.
  2. "Opuntia phaeacantha". Opuntia Web. 24 January 2012.
  3. Elias, Thomas S.; Dykeman, Peter A. (2009) [1982]. Edible Wild Plants: A North American Field Guide to Over 200 Natural Foods. New York: Sterling. p. 140. ISBN 978-1-4027-6715-9. OCLC 244766414.
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