Opuntia engelmannii var. lindheimeri
(Texas Prickly Pear)
Opuntia engelmannii var. lindheimeri, Muleshoe Bend Recreation Area, Travis Co. 9488
Opuntia engelmannii var. lindheimeri, Goose Island State Park, Aransas Co. 5357
Opuntia engelmannii var. lindheimerii, Colorado Bend State Park, San Saba Co. 9415/9423
Opuntia engelmannii var. lindheimeri, Inks Lake State Park, Burnet Co. 6442
Opuntia engelmannii var. lindheimeri, Inks Lake State Park, Burnet Co. 6447
Opuntia engelmannii var. lindheimeri, Goose Island State Park, Aransas Co. 5365
Opuntia engelmannii var. lindheimeri, Inks Lake State Park, Burnet Co. 6390
Opuntia engelmannii var. lindheimerii, Colorado Bend State Park, San Saba Co. 5756
| Scientific Name | Opuntia engelmannii var. lindheimeri (Opuntia lindheimeri) | USDA PLANTS Symbol | OPENL |
| Common Name | Texas Prickly Pear | ITIS Taxonomic Serial No. | 195321 |
| Family | Cactaceae (Cactus) | SEINet Reference |
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| Description | Habitat: Sandy, gravelly or rocky soils; sea level to 1800 ft; generally east of the Pecos. Plant: Large, sprawling plant 1-1/2 to 6 feet high and up to 15 feet across. Pads & Spines: Pads obovate to orbicular, 6 to 12 inches long, 4-3/4 to 10 inches across; 1 to 5 spines per areole, almost always shiny yellow or whitish-yellow, sometimes with red or reddish-brown bases, aging blackish, 1-1/4 to 3 inches long. Inflorescence: Yellow flowers without red center, becoming orange or reddish late in the day and early second day; occasionally orange veins on inner tepals; 2 to 3-1/4 inches across; cream-colored filaments and anthers; greenish-yellow to white style with dark green stigma lobes. Bloom Period: April to June. Fruit: Pear-shaped, purple to dark reddish-purple, 1-1/4 to 2-3/4 inches long, 1 to 1-1/2 inches diameter. References: "Manual of the Vascular Plants of Texas" by Correll and Johnston, Opuntia Web, "Cacti of Texas" by Powell, Weedin and Powell and SEINet. |
BONAP Distribution Map Opuntia lindheimeriMap Color Key |
Texas Status: Native |
Banner photo of Castilleja indivisa and Lupinus ssp. taken along FM 1323 north of Johnson City, Blanco County
© Tom Lebsack 2024