Common prickly pear

Opuntia stricta

Bushy, clumped plant, distinct trunks absent, clumps usually <1.5 m high; segments mostly <20 cm long, mostly dull bluish green to green but not glaucous. Segments elliptic to obovate, compressed, 10–30 cm long, 7–20 cm wide.

Leaves 3–4 mm long, shed early. Areoles filled with brownish woolly hairs; glochids short; spines 0–11, 1–5 cm long.

Flowers yellow.

Fruit usually obovoid, depressed at apex, tapering to a slender base, 4–5 cm long, dark purple, edible if glochids removed.