Many-spined pricklypear
| Botanical Name | Opuntia polyacantha, var. polyacantha |
| Common Name | Many-spined pricklypear |
| Family | Cactaceae - Cactus |
| Description | The spines are gray and dense. The longest ones are on the edges. There are 7-10 spines per cluster. Pads are wrinkled and smaller than phaeacantha. |
| Mature Size | 3"-6" high. 1'-10' wide. |
| Bloom | May-July. The flower has many waxy, bright yellow petals, is about 2" wide and grows on the upper edge of the pad. |
| Interesting Facts | The fruit is called a pear. In Spanish it is a tuna and the pad is a nopal. This cactus is becoming a nuisance on rangeland. The spiny pads often break off and stick in the noses and throats of livestock. |
| Traditional and Medicinal Uses | Pricklypears have been used in treatments for Type 2 diabetes, cholesterol and the immune system. They are said to contain significant amounts of calcium. |
 |
|
|
Photo for SFBG by Janice Tucker
|
Photo for SFBG by Janice Tucker
|
