# Southeastern Pricklypear (*Opuntia mesacantha*) The Southeastern Pricklypear is a fun cactus that grows in warm places. It has bright yellow flowers and tasty fruits called prickly pears that many animals love to eat! - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Snaps:** 1 - **Habitat:** Desert ![Southeastern Pricklypear](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Opuntia_mesacantha_lata.jpg&width=800) Photo: Jay Horn, CC BY 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Opuntia_mesacantha_lata.jpg) ## Appearance The Southeastern Pricklypear has flat, paddle-shaped green pads, which are actually modified stems, covered in sharp, prominent spines and tiny, barbed bristles called glochids. Its large, showy flowers are typically bright yellow with a reddish center, blooming at the top edges of the pads, followed by reddish-purple, pear-shaped fruits. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Caryophyllales - **Family:** Cactaceae - **Genus:** Opuntia ## Interesting facts - Beware the tiny, nearly invisible glochids, which are worse than its big spines! - Fallen pads can sprout roots, growing into an entirely new plant! - Its 'pads' are actually flattened stems designed to store water! - The sweet, juicy fruits, called 'tunas,' are a desert delicacy for many animals. ## Special abilities - **Water Whisperer:** Southeastern Pricklypear can store vast amounts of water in its thick, fleshy pads, helping it survive long periods of drought. - **Night Feeder:** Southeastern Pricklypear uses a special nighttime photosynthesis process (CAM) to conserve water in hot, dry environments. - **Spiky Shield:** Southeastern Pricklypear has two types of spines – long, sharp ones and tiny, barbed glochids – to deter hungry animals. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 30-100 cm - **Spread:** 100-300 cm - **Flower Size:** 5-8 cm - **Bloom Season:** Late spring to early summer - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** Honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Collects nectar and pollen from its flowers. - **Eats:** [Eastern Cottontail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-cottontail) (*Sylvilagus floridanus*) — Munch on pads, especially young ones. - **Eaten by:** [Coyote](https://www.snappit.app/explore/coyote) (*Canis latrans*) — Eats fruits and disperses seeds in droppings. - **Eats:** [Northern Bobwhite](https://www.snappit.app/explore/northern-bobwhite) (*Colinus virginianus*) — Feeds on seeds and fruit, seeks cover. ## Traits - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Spring Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spring-blooming): Spring blooming plants produce their flowers during the spring season, often signifying the end of winter and the start of new growth. - [Fruit Bearing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fruit-bearing): Fruit-bearing plants produce fruits, which are the mature ovaries of flowering plants containing seeds. - [Drought Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/drought-tolerant): Drought-tolerant plants can survive and flourish in conditions with limited water availability. - [Fruit Tree](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fruit-tree): A fruit tree is a perennial tree that produces fruit, which is edible to humans or animals. - [Succulent](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/succulent): Succulent plants have thickened, fleshy parts, usually leaves or stems, adapted to store water in arid climates. - [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Desert](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/desert): Desert habitats are arid regions characterized by extremely low precipitation and often extreme temperatures, supporting specialized flora and fauna. - [Spiky/Thorny](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spiky-thorny): Possessing sharp, pointed projections or spines on the body or surface. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Be careful not to touch the spines on the cactus, as they can poke you! ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Southeastern Pricklypear? Compare leaf arrangement, rosette shape, ribs, spines and flowers. Keep in mind that drought and strong sun can shift a plant's color and shape. Succulent Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is Southeastern Pricklypear? 30-100 cm ### How wide does Southeastern Pricklypear spread? 100-300 cm ### How big are the flowers on Southeastern Pricklypear? 5-8 cm ### When does Southeastern Pricklypear bloom? Late spring to early summer ### Is Southeastern Pricklypear edible? Yes ### Is Southeastern Pricklypear toxic? None ### What is Southeastern Pricklypear's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Alabama City Wall Street Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/alabama-city-wall-street-historic-district) — Alabama, US · Historic District - [Fort Monroe National Monument](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/fort-monroe-national-monument) — Virginia, US · National Park - [Gadsden Downtown Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/gadsden-downtown-historic-district) — Alabama, US · Historic District - [Stone Mountain Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/stone-mountain-park) — Georgia, US · Natural Landmark [View all places to see Southeastern Pricklypear](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/southeastern-pricklypear) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Southeastern Pricklypear: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/southeastern-pricklypear)