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Project Noah Nature School
Prickly Pear Cactus: Opuntia phaeacantha
High Desert/Plains
Second of 2 varieties of Prickly Pear Cactus in Southern Colorado. This one is characterized by pads 3-10" in diameter with 1-3" brown tipped individual spines widely spaced. Yellow flowers with red-orange tinting at base but not unusual to see pink or salmon blooms. This specimen was seen in PicketWire Canyonlands which are part of the Commanche National Grasslands South of La Junta, CO.
Spotted on Apr 23, 2010
Submitted on Apr 23, 2010
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