Opuntia phaeacantha var. laevis

Benson 1969, Benson 1982, FNA 2003, Pinkava 2003

Common Name: tulip pricklypear Duration: Perennial Protected Status: Salvage restriced status in Arizona. General: Shrubby and prostrate or sprawling with clumps 0.5-2.5 m wide and 30-90 cm high with joints 10-25 cm long by 7.5-20 cm wide, pads narrowly obovate. Spines: Spineless or covering at least the upper 1/3-3/4 of the joint, there are 1-5 or up to 9 spines per areole and these are 3-7 cm long, all straight or curved and spreading or pointed downwards. Flowers: Yellow but sometimes with reddish centers and 6-8 cm wide by 6-8 cm long. Fruits: Purple or reddish purple while being fleshy and smooth, they are cylindroid and narrowed at the base, 3-6 cm long by 2-4 cm wide with a shallow cup at the top. Ecology: Found in sandy or rocky soils, pi-on juniper woodlands, grasslands, and ponderosa pine forests from 1,000-7,500 ft (305-2286 m), flowers spring and early summer. Notes: Very common in the pi-on juniper woodlands. Hybridizes or intergrades freely with O. macrorhiza and O. martiniana, producing plants intermediate in characters and very difficult to key. There remain serious questions as to the systematics of this species. Ethnobotany: Fruit was traditionally eaten raw or dried and used as thickening agent for soups. Inner stems were boiled and fried. Inner stems were used as wound dressings or made into a drink to treat diarrhea. Cacti juice has also been shown to reduced blood sugar. Etymology: Opuntia from ancient root puncti for prickled, while laevis means smooth, free from hairs or roughness. Synonyms: Opuntia phaeacantha var. laevis Editor: SBuckley, 2010