Cochineal Nopal Cactus (Opuntia cochenillifera)
Close-up flowers of the unique flowers of the cochineal nopal cactus. This incredibly beautiful member of the prickly pear cactus family is endemic to Mexico and has moved across the world by plant enthusiasts and collectors due to its beauty and hardiness. With its stunningly beautiful, cone-shaped bright pink flowers to its relative lack of spines, this tree-like beauty can reach a height of 12-13 feel (4 meters) and the ripe red fruits and cactus pads are edible and delicious! This one was found growing in the Lower Rio Grande Valley in South Texas near Weslaco in Hidalgo County.
- Copyright
- Rich Leighton
- Image Size
- 7360x4912 / 17.3MB
- Keywords
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Angiosperms, Cactaceae, Cactus campechianus, Cactus cochenillifer, Cactus nopal, Cactus splendidus, Caryophyllales, Estero Llano Grande State Park, Eudicots, Hidalgo County, Nopalea coccifera, Nopalea cochenillifera, Opuntia, Opuntia cochenillifera, Plantae, RGV, Rio Grande Valley, Texas, Tracheophytes, Weslaco, arid, botany, cacti, cactus, cochineal cactus, cochineal nopal cactus, desert, flora, green, heat, hurt, nature, nopal, pain, painful, plant, poke, prickle, prickly, prickly pear, pricklypear, sharp, spike, spiky, succulent, thorn, thorny, west, western, wild, winter
- Contained in galleries
- Opuntieae, Pink Wildflowers
