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Prickly pear cactus

Opuntia ficus-indica

Description:

Most prickly pear cactus have yellow, red, or purple flowers. They vary on height to 6 to 7 feet. All have flat, fleshy pads that look like large leaves. The pads are modified branches or stems that serve water storage, photosynthesis, and flower production. They vary in width, length, shape, and color.

Habitat:

Prickly pear cactus are found in all of the deserts of the American southwest, with different species having adapted to different locale and elevation ranges. The requirements are course, well drained soil in dry, rocky flats or slope. But some prefer pinyon/juniper forests, while other require steep rocky slopes in mountain foothills.

Notes:

Lina Namatame,pd 7, found close to e building

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Hawaii, USA

Spotted on Dec 17, 2014
Submitted on Dec 18, 2014

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