Opuntia oricola


Opuntia oricola is a species of prickly pear cactus known by the common name chaparral prickly pear.

Description

Opuntia oricola is a large treelike cactus often exceeding 2 meters in height. The branches are made up of rounded flat segments up to 25 centimeters long. It is covered in clusters of curved, yellowish spines usually around 2 centimeters long.
The flowers are yellow, sometimes orange-tinged. The spherical fruit is purplish red on the outside, whitish and juicy inside, and up to 6 centimeters long. It was common along the coasts and adjacent inland areas of California, but development has reduced its populations.

Distribution and habitat

The plant is native to southern California and Baja California, where it grows in coastal sage scrub and chaparral habitats.