Opuntia humifusa (Raf.) Raf.
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Authority
Gleason, Henry A. & Cronquist, Arthur J. 1991. Manual of vascular plants of northeastern United States and adjacent Canada. lxxv + 910 pp.
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Family
Cactaceae
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Scientific Name
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Description
Species Description - Prostrate or spreading, forming large mats; roots mostly fibrous, only seldom tuberous-thickened; joints of the stem flattened, oblong to suborbicular, 4–12 cm at maturity; areoles commonly 10–25 mm apart, spineless, or some of them with 1, rarely 2 spines 1.5–3 cm; fls 4–8 cm wide, yellow, often with a red center; outer sep subulate to lanceolate; fr red or purple, 2.5–5 cm, edible; seeds discoid, with an indurate, regular margin. On rocks, shores, sand-dunes, or sandy prairies; e. Mass. to s. Ont. and s. Minn., s. to Fla. and e. Tex. June, July. (O. calcicola; O. compressa; O. opuntia; O. pollardii; O. rafinesquei; O. vulgaris, misapplied)
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Common Names
eastern prickly pear