Opuntia macrorhiza

Opuntia macrorhiza is a common and widespread species of cactus with the common names Plains Pricklypear or Prairie Pricklypear or Western Pricklypear. It is found throughout the Great Plains of the United States, from Texas to Minnesota, and west into the Rocky Mountain states to New Mexico, Utah, and perhaps Idaho, with sporadic populations in the Mississippi and Ohio Valleys.[3] It is also reported from northern Mexico in the states of Chihuahua, Sonora, Coahuila, Nuevo León, Durango, Tamaulipas, and San Luís Potosí.[4][5][6], though all Arizona and Mexican records should be considered with caution due to confusion with other similar species. The species is cultivated as an ornamental in other locations.

Opuntia macrorhiza
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Cactaceae
Genus: Opuntia
Species:
O. macrorhiza
Binomial name
Opuntia macrorhiza
Engelm.
Synonyms[2]
Synonymy
  • Opuntia compressa var. macrorhiza (Engelm.) L.D. Benson
  • Opuntia mesacantha var. macrorhiza (Engelm.) J.M. Coult.
  • Opuntia mesacantha var. greenii J.M. Coult.
  • Opuntia macrorhiza var. greenii (J.M. Coult.) Bulot
  • Opuntia stenochila Engelmann & Bigelow
  • Opuntia mesacantha var. stenochila (Engelmann & Bigelow) Coulter

The species prefers well-drained, sandy or gravelly soils, mostly in grassland areas. It is one of the shorter species of the genus, rarely over 30 cm (1 foot) tall, spreading horizontally and forming wide clumps. Flowers are showy and bright yellow, often with red markings near the base of the petals. Fruits are narrow, red, juicy and edible.[7]

Several varieties have proposed within the species. More study is needed to determine whether these should continue to be recognized as varieties, elevated to species status, or regarded as mere synonyms.

References
  1. Heil, K., Terry, M. & Corral-Díaz, R. 2017. Opuntia macrorhiza (amended version of 2013 assessment). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2017: e.T152371A121590513. Retrieved 16 September 2021.
  2. The Plant List, Opuntia macrorhiza Engelm.
  3. United States Department of Agriculture Plants Profile
  4. Encyclopedia of Life
  5. Biota of North America Program, 2014 county distribution map
  6. SEINet, Southwestern Biodiversity, Arizona chapter photos, description, distribution map
  7. Flora of North America, Opuntia macrorhiza Engelmann, 1850. Western pricklypear


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