Opuntia phaeacantha
(Tulip Prickly Pear)
Opuntia phaeacantha, Kiowa Trail, Palo Duro Canyon State Park, Armstrong Co. 9816
Opuntia phaeacantha, Kiowa Trail, Palo Duro Canyon State Park, Armstrong Co. 0409/0417
Opuntia phaeacantha, Lighthouse Trail, Palo Duro Canyon State Park, Randall Co. 4116
Opuntia phaeacantha, Kiowa Trail, Palo Duro Canyon State Park, Armstrong Co. 9846
Opuntia phaeacantha, Kiowa Trail, Palo Duro Canyon State Park, Armstrong Co. 0378
Opuntia phaeacantha, Kiowa Trail, Palo Duro Canyon State Park, Armstrong Co. 9825
| Scientific Name | Opuntia phaeacantha | USDA PLANTS Symbol | OPPH |
| Common Name | Tulip Prickly Pear | ITIS Taxonomic Serial No. | 19724 |
| Family | Cactaceae (Cactus) | SEINet Reference |
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| Description | Habitat: Sandy to rocky soils in deserts, surrounding mountains and plains, 4000 to 7500 ft. Plant: Erect or sprawling,low-growing, plant in clusters 12 to 24 inches high. Pads & Spines: Green to dark green flattened pads, obovate to circular, 4 to 9 inches long and 2-3/4 to 8 inches wide; 8 or fewer spines per areole at most areoles above the bottom 1/4 of the pad; largest spines 1-1/4 to 2-3/4 inches long, usually bent downward but may point outward; completely grayish-white to tan or brownish/reddish near base; shorter spines less than 1 inch long and pointing downward. Inflorescence: Showy flowers are 2 to 2-3/4 inches across; inner tepals are yellow with red basal portions (rarely entirely pink to red); upper portions of filaments are pale yellow to white and the anthers are yellow; the style white and the stigma lobes are green to yellow-green. Opening by mid-day. Bloom Period: May and June. Fruit: Fleshy, dark red to purple on the outside, spineless, obovate to barrel-shaped, 1-1/4 to 2 inches long and 3/4 to 1-1/4 inches wide.. References: "Cacti of Texas" by Powell, Weedin and Powell, American Southwest and SEINet. |
BONAP Distribution Map 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