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.^[1]

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

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 (not always) also present.^[2] 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.

Close-up of yellow barbed bristles and longer spines

The fruit of the Eastern Prickly Pear

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.

References

1. ^ "Plants Profile: Opuntia humifusa". Natural Resources Conservation Service. United States Department of Agriculture. http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=OPHU. Retrieved 13 April 2010. 
2. ^ "4. Opuntia humifusa", Flora of North America, http://efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=242415184 

• 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