General: Western Pricklypear Cactus (Opuntia diploursina) is a tall (to 2 ft) pricklypear with upright growing, oblong pads. Spine clusters on the pads are many and packed close together. Usually there are several small spines and one long spine per cluster. The longer spines often exceed 2 inches, but they can grow quite long. The flowers usually are yellow, but can be pink to red. The fruit is a dry, spiny bur.
Western Pricklypear Cactus is a locally common (uncommon overall, but they can be abundant in certain areas) component of vegetation communities on well-drained sandy, gravelly, and rocky soils along washes, canyons, and on upper bajadas and moderate slopes into the lower mountains in the Upper Sonoran (Mojave Desert Scrub) life zone.
Around Las Vegas, this cactus is found at middle elevations in the deserts of Clark County. Look for them in Gold Butte National Monument or in the foothills of the Mormon Mountains.
Family: Cactus (Cactaceae). |