Opuntia phaeacantha is a species of prickly pear cactus known by the common names brown-spine prickly pear, tulip prickly pear, and desert prickly pear, which is found across the southwestern United States, lower Great Plains, and northern Mexico. The plant forms dense but localized thickets. Several varieties of this particular species occur, and it may hybridize with other prickly pears, making identification sometimes tricky.
From Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Is it poisonous?
We have no record of Brown-spined Pricklypear being toxic, poisonous or venomous. That is not proof that it is safe. Never eat, touch or handle a wild plant, mushroom or animal on the strength of an identification; ask someone qualified.
Easily confused with
- Opuntia camanchica
- Opuntia tortispina
- Opuntia gilvescens
- Opuntia dulcis
- Opuntia arizonica
- Opuntia curvispina
Classification
- Kingdom
- Plantae
- Phylum
- Tracheophyta
- Class
- Magnoliopsida
- Order
- Caryophyllales
- Family
- Cactaceae
- Genus
- Opuntia
- Species
- Opuntia phaeacantha
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