Cactaceae

Opuntia microdasys

Common Names: Bunny ears

Plant Form: Branched succulent shrub. Size: Up to 60 cm tall. Stem: Pads 10-15 cm long in pairs which resemble bunny ears. Bright green ageing to pale green. Covered in bumps (areoles), golden-brown bristles and occasionally spines. Flowers: Yellow, sometimes with reddish tinge, 3-5 cm across. Fruit and Seeds: Round, red to purple, 3 cm across. Covered in bristles. Habitat: Grasslands, rangelands, wasteland, arid areas, rocky areas. Distinguishing Features: Similar to Blind cactus (Opuntia rufida), which has reddish-brown rather than golden-brown bristles.

Leaves have dense tufts of spines

Flowers may be dark centred

Tufts can be red, yellow or white

Growth form is dense and low