Tuber-root pricklypear, Western pricklypear
| Botanical Name | Opuntia polyacantha, var. polyacantha |
| Common Name | Tuber-root pricklypear, Western pricklypear |
| Family | Cactaceae - Cactus |
| Description | Whitish, widely spaced spines are on the upper half of the pad. In the winter the pads become quite scraggly in appearance. However they green up quickly in the spring. It has tuberous roots. |
| Mature Size | 6"-14" Clumps spread to about 18". |
| Bloom | May-July. The flowers are bright yellow, sometimes with red streaks or red centers. They are 2 or more inches wide. |
| Interesting Facts | It grows statewide in New Mexico. The pads easily break off and root nearby. |
| Traditional and Medicinal Uses | The pulpy red fruits ripen in late summer and are used to make candy and jam. The NativeAmericans roasted the pads as a vegetable and used the sap on swollen parts of the body. |
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Photo for SFBG by Janice Tucker
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Photo for SFBG by Janice Tucker
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