Opuntiads of the USA

Opuntia dulcis Engelm.

Opuntia dulcis has sometimes been described as a variety of O. phaeacantha. However, throughtout their overlapping ranges the two species are differentiable and do not appear to be varieties or forms of a single species. Opuntia dulcis is a woodier plant with a distinctive look.

Opuntia dulcis near Bagdad, AZ

Close-up of plant at left

Close-up of plant at far left

Opuntia dulcis, near Kirkland, AZ, June 2009

Close-up of plant at immediate left

Opuntia dulcis, near Kirkland, AZ, June 2009

Apparent Opuntia dulcis, near Kirkland, AZ, June 2009, showing strong similarity to putative O. mojavensis from Nevada

Opuntia dulcis peeking through grass, near Kirkland, AZ, June 2009

Opuntia dulcis, near Kirkland, AZ, June 2009

Opuntia dulcis, mature plant.

Opuntia dulcis, west of San Ysidro, NM a few miles.

Opunta dulcis, late winter color and hydration,New Mexico, 2006.

Multiple Opuntia dulcis plants, rocky south-facing slope, Cibola National Forest, near Albuquerque, NM, March, 2006.

Close-up, pad of Opuntia dulcis, Cibola National Forest, near Albuquerque, NM, March, 2006.

Close-up, aereoles of Opuntia dulcis, Cibola National Forest, near Albuquerque, NM, March, 2006.

Opuntia dulcis, cultivated plant, Rio Grande Botanic Garden, Albuquerque, NM, March, 2006.

Opuntia dulcis, a few mies west of San Ysidro, NM.

Close-up, pad of Opuntia dulcis, a few mies west of San Ysidro, NM, late winter.

Opuntia dulcis, a few mies west of San Ysidro, NM, late winter.

Opuntia dulcis, Cibola National Forest, ca. 6,000-6,500 ft. elevation.

Opuntia phaecantha, Placitas, NM, can be confused with O. dulcis

Close-up of previous image, Opuntia phaecantha

Opuntia dulcis, May 2006, south of Artesia NM, with O. valida, O. engelmannii, O. gilvescens, O. orbiculata, and Echinocactus

Opuntia dulcis, close-up of plant at left

Close-up of plant at far left

Opuntia dulcis, May 2006, south of Artesia NM, with O. valida, O. engelmannii, O. gilvescens, O. orbiculata, and Echinocactus

Close-up of plant to left

Close-up of plant at far left

Close-up of plant in row above, south of Artesia, NM

Opuntia dulcis, Alamogordo, NM, 2004

Opuntia dulcis, Placitas, NM

Opuntia dulcis-like, found in southwest UT along Interstate 15 (near St. George, UT), plants were never identified properly in the field but flower is typical O. dulcis

Opuntia dulcis-like, close-up of garden plant at immediate left

Close-up of cladode on Opuntia dulcis-like plant at far left, plants were woody and not prostrate, similar to O. dulcis and other O. dulcis-like plants