Alternate name: Pygmy Prickly-pear

Family: Cactaceae, Cactus view all from this family

Description The entire plant forms a low, matted, clump of spiny jointed stems. Flowers yellow or greenish.
Flowers: 1 1/2-2" (3.8-5 cm) wide, blooming near upper ends of joints.
Stems: joints broadest above middle, slightly flat, 3/4-2" (2-5 cm) long, readily detached.
Spines: 1/2-1" (1.3-2.5 cm) long, white or pale gray; 1-9 in each cluster.
Fruit: about 1/2" (1.3 cm) long, egg-shaped, tan when ripe.
Height: 8-10" (20-25 cm), with the clump 1-3' (30-90 cm) wide.

Warning Most cacti of the genus Opuntia have sharp spines as well as tiny barbed hairs called glochids that can be difficult to remove from the skin.

Flower May-June.

Habitat Dry open areas.

Range Western Washington and southern British Columbia; south on the east side of the Cascade Mountains to northern California and northern Arizona; east to northern Texas and southern Michigan.

Discussion This is one of the most common low prickly-pears. Most have flatter stems.