Opuntia azurea var. parva
(Big Bend Purplish Prickly Pear)
Opuntia azurea var. parva, Hwy 118, Big Bend National Park 3918
Opuntia azurea var. parva, Hwy 118, Big Bend National Park 3922
Opuntia azurea var. parva, Hwy 118, Big Bend National Park 3902
Opuntia azurea var. parva, El Solitario, Big Bend Ranch State Park 3996
Opuntia azurea var. parva, Mariscal Mine, River Road, Big Bend NP 1126
Opuntia azurea var. parva, East Contrabando Trail, Big Bend Ranch State Park 3189
Opuntia azurea var. parva, El Solitario, Big Bend Ranch State Park 3996-2
Opuntia azurea var. parva, El Solitario, Big Bend Ranch State Park 3184
| Scientific Name | Opuntia azurea var. parva | USDA PLANTS Symbol | N/A |
| Common Name | Big Bend Purplish Prickly Pear | ITIS Taxonomic Serial No. | N/A |
| Family | Cactaceae (Cactus) | SEINet Reference |
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| Description | Habitat: Desert habitats only in Big Bend area from 1900 to 3700 ft. Plant: Many-branched, sprawling plant 1 to 3 ft high. Pads & Spines: Pale blue-green to bluish-gray pads, upper obovate with tapered bases, lower nearly circular, 3 to 7-1/2 inches long and up to 5-1/2 inches wide; tinged with purple especially around areoles, becoming predominantly purple during droughts. Spines in upper portion and edges of pads, 1 to 3 spines per areole up to 4-3/4 inches long (sometimes longer), black to dark red with white tips. Inflorescence: Young flowers yellow, becoming orange-red by late afternoon; up to 3-1/8 inches across; yellow filaments and anthers, cream-colored style with green stigma lobes. Bloom Period: March to May. Fruit: Pale red to purple, ovate to obovate, 5/8 to 1-1/8-inch long and up to 1 inch across. References: "Cacti of Texas" by Powell, Weedin and Powell. Notes: O. azurea not yet recognized at USDA Plants or ITIS. Previously identified here as O. macrocentra, however, according to the above reference that species does not exist in Brewster County and Big Bend. |
BONAP Distribution MapN/A | Texas Status: NativeEndemic to Big Bend area, common throughout Brewster County |
Banner photo of Castilleja indivisa and Lupinus ssp. taken along FM 1323 north of Johnson City, Blanco County
© Tom Lebsack 2024