Texas
Wildbuds

Opuntia engelmannii var. lindheimeri

Opuntia engelmannii var. lindheimeri, Muleshoe Bend Recreation Area, Travis Co. 9488

Opuntia engelmannii var. lindheimeri, Muleshoe Bend Recreation Area, Travis Co. 9482

Opuntia engelmannii var. lindheimerii, Colorado Bend SP, San Saba Co. 9415/9423

Opuntia engelmannii var. lindheimeri, Inks Lake State Park, Burnet Co. 6442

Opuntia engelmannii var. lindheimeri, Inks Lake State Park, Burnet Co. 6447

Opuntia engelmannii var. lindheimeri, Inks Lake State Park, Burnet Co. 6390

Opuntia engelmannii var. lindheimerii, Colorado Bend SP, San Saba Co. 5756

Scientific Name	Opuntia engelmannii var. lindheimeri (Opuntia lindheimeri)	USDA PLANTS Symbol	OPENL
Common Name	Texas Prickly Pear	ITIS Taxonomic Serial No.	195321
Family	Cactaceae (Cactus)	SEINet Reference	Click Here
Description	Habitat: Sandy, gravelly or rocky soils from 1000 to 1800 ft; generally east of the Pecos. Plant: Large, sprawling plant 1-1/2 to 6 feet high and up to 15 feet across. Pads & Spines: Pads obovate to orbicular, 6 to 12 inches long, 4-3/4 to 10 inches across; 1 to 5 spines per areole, almost always shiny yellow or whitish-yellow, sometimes with red or reddish-brown bases, aging blackish, 1-1/4 to 3 inches long. Inflorescence: Yellow flowers without red center, becoming orange or reddish late in the day and early second day; occasionally orange veins on inner tepals; 2 to 3-1/4 inches across; cream-colored filaments and anthers; greenish-yellow to white style with dark green stigma lobes. Bloom Period: April to June. Fruit: Pear-shaped, purple to dark reddish-purple, 1-1/4 to 2-3/4 inches long, 1 to 1-1/2 inches diameter. References: "Manual of the Vascular Plants of Texas" by Correll and Johnston, Opuntia Web, "Cacti of Texas" by Powell, Weedin and Powell and SEINet.	BONAP Distribution Map Opuntia lindheimeri Map Color Key	Texas Status: Native

Banner photo of Castilleja indivisa and Lupinus ssp. taken along FM 1323 north of Johnson City, Blanco County

© Tom Lebsack 2024