Comments on: Opuntia stricta, Shell Mound Pricklypear https://www.opuntiads.com ...glochids are forever Wed, 11 Feb 2026 07:24:10 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.1 By: Tom Scott https://www.opuntiads.com/opuntia-stricta/#comment-23181 Wed, 11 Feb 2026 07:24:10 +0000 http://opuntiads.com?page_id=4315#comment-23181 Hi
My friend tried O. Stricta in Yucatan and said the flavor was outstanding! Any location in or near Punta Gorda where I can send my mom to see one of these plants in person, preferably with fruit on it now for her to try?
Thanks kindly!

]]> By: Joseph https://www.opuntiads.com/opuntia-stricta/#comment-5776 Mon, 29 May 2023 13:41:33 +0000 http://opuntiads.com?page_id=4315#comment-5776 In reply to Dee.

Hi,

O mesacantha is smaller plant, it is not stiff and uprightish. O mesacantha is prostrate. O. mesacantha resembles O. humifusa and O. cespitosa if you have those two

O stricta has stiff stems that rise up from the ground; the stems may run along the ground, but they eventually rise. Eventually O. stricta forms a small bush. Eventually, O. stricta can form a shrub that can be 2-ft-tall (young plants) or over 3-ft-tall (older plants). Push the stem and it will seem woody unlike O. mesacantha.

Joe

]]> By: Dee https://www.opuntiads.com/opuntia-stricta/#comment-5564 Sun, 07 May 2023 14:51:54 +0000 http://opuntiads.com?page_id=4315#comment-5564 Could you please compare/contrast Opuntia stricta with Opuntia mesacantha? I found this Prickly Pear (https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/155225416) down in Marathon Florida, and to me, it looked like the Opuntia mesacantha I find in the scrub in Central Florida, but iNaturalist suggested Opuntia stricta, and since I was in such a different habitat, I assumed it was right, but am second guessing now. Thanks!

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