Comments on: Opuntia humifusa, Eastern Pricklypear https://www.opuntiads.com ...glochids are forever Mon, 15 Sep 2025 03:10:06 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9 By: Joseph https://www.opuntiads.com/opuntia-humifusa/#comment-20836 Tue, 09 Sep 2025 20:44:01 +0000 http://opuntiads.com?page_id=1375#comment-20836 In reply to Andrew Block.

Hi,

I think they are O. cespitosa.

Joe

]]> By: Andrew Block https://www.opuntiads.com/opuntia-humifusa/#comment-20209 Fri, 08 Aug 2025 21:32:55 +0000 http://opuntiads.com?page_id=1375#comment-20209 Any ideas on the opuntia in the NJ Pine Barrens? I forget if they have all yellow or yellow with red throat flowers. I see no spines on them.

]]> By: Joseph https://www.opuntiads.com/opuntia-humifusa/#comment-6560 Mon, 14 Aug 2023 19:43:30 +0000 http://opuntiads.com?page_id=1375#comment-6560 In reply to Dave S..

Dave,

Thanks for the info.

Joe Shaw

]]> By: Dave S. https://www.opuntiads.com/opuntia-humifusa/#comment-5882 Fri, 16 Jun 2023 00:32:10 +0000 http://opuntiads.com?page_id=1375#comment-5882 It seems that under certain conditions, O. humifusa can indeed have spines and extruded glochids. I can vouch for plants from Atsion, NJ (pinelands) and Milford Bluffs (also NJ, cliffs along the Delaware River) being “obvious” straightforward humifusa, but developing spines/extruded glochids when grown in extremely hot/dry conditions. As these characteristics can vary, it brings their usefulness re:identification into question.

]]> By: Martha Clark https://www.opuntiads.com/opuntia-humifusa/#comment-1132 Tue, 07 Jul 2020 16:55:49 +0000 http://opuntiads.com?page_id=1375#comment-1132 Hi,
Is the O. humifusa also edible with the same medicinal properties as other varieties?

]]> By: Joseph https://www.opuntiads.com/opuntia-humifusa/#comment-589 Wed, 10 Apr 2019 14:04:36 +0000 http://opuntiads.com?page_id=1375#comment-589 In reply to Nathanael Powell.

Hi,
Thanks for your note. It is true, much information suggests O. humifusa has spines. However, in the past few years, Dr. Majure has shown that plants with spines are O. mesacantha or O. cespitosa. These are relatively recent studies and O. mesacantha and O. cespitosa were not even recognized until recently. I have removed any pictures of plants with spines–sorry for any confusion.
See page 40 at: https://opuntiads.com/records/Taxonomic%20revision%20of%20the%20Opuntia%20humifusa%20complex%20in%20eastern%20usa.pdf.
Joe

]]> By: Nathanael Powell https://www.opuntiads.com/opuntia-humifusa/#comment-588 Tue, 09 Apr 2019 15:40:07 +0000 http://opuntiads.com?page_id=1375#comment-588 Hi, I am wondering why there are multiple assertions that O. humifusa is spineless, yet many of the pictures you feature show O. humifusa patches/collections that have 1-2 spines per dozen cladodes or so. Nearly spineless? Absolutely. But I wish you would adjust the information given in the article to reflect this.

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