Opuntia rufida
(Blind Prickly Pear)
Opuntia rufida, Mariscal Mine, River Road, Big Bend NP 1210
Opuntia rufida, Mariscal Mine, River Road, Big Bend NP 1222
Opuntia rufida, Mariscal Mine, River Road, Big Bend NP 1217
Opuntia rufida, Ernst Tinaja, Big Bend NP 2531
Opuntia rufida, Ernst Tinaja, Big Bend NP 2529
Opuntia rufida, Big Hill, Hwy 170, Big Bend Ranch State Park 4501
| Scientific Name | Opuntia rufida | USDA PLANTS Symbol | OPRU3 |
| Common Name | Blind Prickly Pear | ITIS Taxonomic Serial No. | 19731 |
| Family | Cactaceae (Cactus) | SEINet Reference |
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| Description | Habitat: Desert habitats; limestone and igneous soils and rocks on flats, hillsides, canyons; from 1800 to 4000 ft. Plant: Erect shrub 2 to 5 feet high, multiple branches. Pads & Spines: Circular, obovate or elliptic, gray-green pads 3 to 10 inches across; with many spineless areoles; areoles have white to gray hairs and conspicuous reddish-brown glochids. Inflorescence: Yellow flowers becoming apricot to orange later in the day; 1-3/4 to 3 inches across; white filaments, yellow to cream-colored anthers; colorless to green style with dark green stigma lobes. Bloom Period: April and May. Fruit: Ovoid-shaped, greenish-red, 3/4 to 1 inch across; spineless. References: "Manual of the Vascular Plants of Texas" by Correll and Johnston, "Cacti of Texas" by Powell, Weedin and Powell and SEINet. |
BONAP Distribution Map Map Color Key |
Texas Status: Native Endemic to Big Bend area along the Rio Grande |
Banner photo of Castilleja indivisa and Lupinus ssp. taken along FM 1323 north of Johnson City, Blanco County
© Tom Lebsack 2024