Opuntia bensonii
Sanchez-Mejorada
iNaturalist· cc-by-nc
(c) Ignacio Torres-García, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Ignacio Torres-García
iNaturalist· cc-by-nc
(c) bighornsheepgirl, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
iNaturalist· cc-by-nc
(c) bighornsheepgirl, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
Description
A cactus. It is shrubby or treelike. It has a main trunk and many branches from the base. It forms dense clumps. It can be 2-4 m high. The stem segments are widely oval. They are green with a reddish tint near the spine buds. They are 30 cm long by 20 cm wide. There are 5-9 spines. They are white with dark tips. The flowers are bright yellow and 3.5 cm long by 2.5 cm wide. The fruit are pear shaped and reddish purple. They are 6-7 cm long. They are edible.
Edible Uses
The fruit are eaten.
Distribution
It is a subtropical plant.
Where It Grows
Mexico, North America,
References (2)
- Anderson, E.F., 2001, The Cactus Family, Timber Press. p 490
- www.desert-tropicals.com
