




Opuntia polyacantha
The Plains Pricklypear is a fun cactus that grows in the wild! It has flat pads and bright yellow flowers that turn into tasty fruits called prickly pears.
Habitat: Grasslands
The Plains Pricklypear has flattened, oval-shaped green pads covered in numerous sharp spines and tiny barbed glochids. Its striking yellow flowers, sometimes tinged with red, blossom from the edges of these pads. The plant often forms dense, low-growing clumps.





Category
PlantsRarity
Common
Danger
2/5 · Low
Snaps
Be the first to snap!
Each spine on its pads is actually a modified leaf, hardened for protection!
Its fruits, called "tunas," are sweet and often purple or red!
Some Plains Pricklypears can grow to be over 20 years old!
Tiny, hair-like barbs called glochids are super tricky to remove from skin!
Plains Pricklypear has thick, succulent pads that store water, helping it survive long droughts.
Its sharp spines and tiny glochids protect it from hungry animals looking for a watery snack.
Plains Pricklypear has an extensive root system that effectively soaks up precious water from dry soils.
Pecari tajacu
fruit and pads provide vital water and food.
Cynomys ludovicianus
consumes pads and roots.
Apis mellifera
gathers nectar and pollen from flowers.
Bombus occidentalis
efficiently pollinates its vibrant blooms.
Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.
Fruit-bearing plants produce fruits, which are the mature ovaries of flowering plants containing seeds.
Pertaining to plants that have stems covered with sharp, pointed projections for defense.
Drought-tolerant plants can survive and flourish in conditions with limited water availability.
Succulent plants have thickened, fleshy parts, usually leaves or stems, adapted to store water in arid climates.
Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption.
Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals.
Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.
Desert habitats are arid regions characterized by extremely low precipitation and often extreme temperatures, supporting specialized flora and fauna.
Danger
2/5 · Low
Be careful not to touch the spines on the cactus; they can be sharp!
10-60 cm
50-200 cm
4-8 cm
Late Spring to Early Summer
Yes
Mild
Perennial
Insect
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Utah, US
You might spot Canada Goose, Redstem Stork's-Bill, and American Robin.
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New Mexico, US
You might spot Tree Cholla, Mule Deer, and Sacred Datura.
View guide →

Nebraska, US
You might spot Great Plains Yucca, Plains Pricklypear, and Winterfat.
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Montana, US
You might spot Bighorn Sheep and Curlleaf Mountain Mahogany.
View guide →

New Mexico, US
You might spot Common Side-Blotched Lizard and Kingcup Cactus.
View guide →

South Dakota, US
You might spot Plains Pricklypear.
View guide →