Cactaceae

Opuntia elatior

Common Names: Red-flowered prickly pear

Plant Form: Erect succulent prickly shrub. Size: Up to 5 m tall. Stem: Greyish or olive green, smooth, often with wavy edges. With needle-like dark brown spines 2-4 cm long clustered in groups of 2-8.. Leaves: Scale like on new growth and short lived. Flowers: 3-5 cm across, bright red or orange with red stripes. Fruit and Seeds: Barrel-shaped to oval-shaped, 2-4 cm long. Reddish to pinkish. Habitat: Grasslands, arid areas, scrublands, agricultural areas, coastal scrub. Distinguishing Features: Red stripes on flowers and dark brown spines distinguish from other Opuntioid cacti (Opuntia species).