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Opuntia cespitosa, commonly called the eastern prickly pear, [1] is a species of cactus native to North America. It is most common west of the Appalachian Mountains and east of the Mississippi River , where it is found in the Midwest , Upper South and in Ontario . [ 1 ]
Opuntia fragilis is a small, prostrate plant, up to 20 centimetres (8 in) tall. [3] The joints are tumid, fragile, easily detached, oval, elliptical, or subglobose, 3–5 cm (1–2 in) long and nearly as thick as broad, bright green.
Opuntia, commonly called the prickly pear cactus, is a genus of flowering plants in the cactus family Cactaceae, many known for their flavorful fruit and showy flowers. [1] Cacti are well-adapted to aridity; however, they are still vulnerable to alterations in precipitation and temperature driven by climate change. [ 2 ]
This species naturally occurs along the East Coast of the United States, including on barrier islands from the Florida Keys to coastal Massachusetts. [5] Eastern prickly pear is found in scattered locations from New Mexico and Montana eastward, [6] and is one of two cactus species native to the eastern United States, along with the related O. cespitosa. [7]
The driest hilltops even support the brittle prickly pear cactus, the only cactus species native to Wisconsin. Early successional species take hold on the exposed basalt rocks. Over 400 species of ferns and flowering plants have been catalogued in the Wisconsin park. [13]
Cattle are normally fed a spineless variety of the cactus. [10] The cactus pads are low in dry matter and crude protein but useful as a supplement in drought conditions. In addition to the food value, the moisture content adequately eliminates watering the cattle during drought. [10] Numerous wildlife species use the prickly pear for food. [10]