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Bunny-ears prickly-pear
(Opuntia microdasys)
JOSEPH WOOD KRUCH CACTUS GARDEN
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Bunny-ears prickly-pear |
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(Opuntia microdasys) |
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JOSEPH WOOD KRUCH CACTUS GARDEN |
| 8 | A popular cultivated prickly-pear. It looks spineless, but beware!! |
| In Depth | Opuntia microdasys, Bunny-ears prickly-pear |
| Location: JOSEPH WOOD KRUCH CACTUS GARDEN | |
| Family: Cactaceae, the Cactus family | |
| Distribution: Chihuahuan Desert of Central and northern Mexico | |
| Habitat: Low deserts | |
| Habit: Low shrub | |
| Flowering: Late Spring | |
| Natural History Notes: The name Opuntia is an early name for some kind of spiny plant associated with the Greek town of Opus, or the surrounding region. While cacti (which are of New World origin) would not have grown there naturally, Prickly-pears of this genus likely do now, as these have been introduced into many of the warmer drier parts of the world, often escaping and becoming pests. Distinguishing Characteristics: Prickly-pear cacti are distinguished by their unusual stems, segmented into pancake-shaped pads. There are several species of Prickly-pears in the Cactus Garden (some species have juicy edible fruits - but are still very unlike pears). The Bunny-ears cactus is distinctive with pads light-green in color and lacking noticeable spines. The pads do have light colored areoles (spine clusters) which are filled with tiny barbed spines called glochids. These easily stick in the skin and are irritating, making this cactus just as unpleasant as some of its spinier relatives. All Prickly-pear cacti possess some amount of glochids and should be approached with caution. The flowers are yellow, 2 inches wide, and are followed by dry fruits. Human Uses: Often used as an outdoor ornamental or houseplant, in spite of its irritating glochids. This species is not native to Arizona, but has escaped from cultivation in this state, and potentially could become a pest in the wild. |