Opuntia cespitosa

Characteristics
Dicots
Cactaceae
Opuntia
Opuntia cespitosa Raf.
Eastern Prickly Pear
shrub
4
**
Native KY[SNR] (State Rank) GNR (Global Rank)
Armaments
Yes
Base Flower Color
Orange; Yellow
Duration
Perennial
Fruit Dehiscence
No
Fruit Type
Berry
Fruit Wet/Dry
Wet
General Ecology
Terrestrial
Growth Habit
shrub
Leaf Arrangement
absent; alternate
Leaf Complexity
absent; simple
Leaf Dissection
0
Leaf Duration
absent; caducous
Leaf Fragrance
No
Leaf Rank
spiral
Leaf Type
absent; succulent
Leaflet Number
0
Moisture Requirements
Xeric
Overall Flower Symmetry
Actinomorphic
Parent Rock
Calcareous; Limestone; Sandstone
Soil Composition
Mineral
Soil pH
Acidic; Alkaline
Unconsolidated Rock
Yes
Unconsolidated Size Class
Clay; Sand
Woody Herbaceous
Woody
View details of Herbarium specimens
** Not applicable or data not available.
Classification
Caryophyllales
Opuntia
Opuntia cespitosa Raf. - Eastern Prickly Pear
Species Distribution Map

This species has been reported in the counties highlighted in the interactive distribution map below. Click on a county to display its name.

Click the question mark icon () to view additional information about the ecoregions shown. In the map legend, there are links to toggle the visibility of the ecoregions and/or their labels. In addition, clicking on an ecoregion name will highlight that region on the map.

Ecoregions
  • Southeastern Plains
    • Blackland Prarie
  • Blue Ridge Mountains
  • Ridge and Valley
  • Cumberland Plateau
  • Cumberland Mountains
  • Allegheny Plateau
  • Interior Plateau
    • Bluegrass Region
    • Nashville Basin
    • Pennyroyal Karst Plain
    • Western Highland Rim
    • Eastern Highland Rim
  • Interior River Valleys and Hills
    • Shawnee / Caseyville Hills
  • Mississippi Alluvial Plain
  • Mississippi Valley Loess Plains
Synonyms
Specimens and Distribution

Click on an Accession Number to view additional details about the specimen.

Range of years during which specimens were collected:

Plant Photos
Opuntia cespitosa - 3
Opuntia cespitosa - Ashley B. Morris View Full Size
Opuntia cespitosa - 3
Opuntia cespitosa - Ashley B. Morris View Full Size
Opuntia cespitosa - 13
Opuntia cespitosa - Dwayne Estes View Full Size
Opuntia cespitosa - 13
Opuntia cespitosa - Dwayne Estes View Full Size
Opuntia cespitosa - 13
Opuntia cespitosa - Dwayne Estes View Full Size
Opuntia cespitosa - 2
Opuntia cespitosa - Joey Shaw View Full Size
Opuntia cespitosa - 2
Opuntia cespitosa - Joey Shaw View Full Size
Opuntia cespitosa - 2
Opuntia cespitosa - Joey Shaw View Full Size
Opuntia cespitosa - 20
Opuntia cespitosa - Milo Pyne View Full Size
Opuntia cespitosa - 20
Opuntia cespitosa - Milo Pyne View Full Size
Opuntia cespitosa - 18
Opuntia cespitosa - Sunny Fleming View Full Size
Opuntia cespitosa - 21
Opuntia cespitosa - Tara Littlefield View Full Size
Opuntia cespitosa - 19
Opuntia cespitosa - Theo Witsell View Full Size
Opuntia cespitosa - 19
Opuntia cespitosa - Theo Witsell View Full Size
Opuntia cespitosa - 19
Opuntia cespitosa - Theo Witsell View Full Size
Opuntia cespitosa - 19
Opuntia cespitosa - Theo Witsell View Full Size
Opuntia cespitosa - 19
Opuntia cespitosa - Theo Witsell View Full Size