Opuntia polyacantha
This beautifully spiny plant is blooming in July and ready for its close-up.
The prickly pear cactus or Opuntia polyacantha Haw. var. polyacantha is one of many plants of the province that are in flower this time of year. This spiny green plant has bright yellow flowers which make it simple to spot from afar, as it normally blends in with the grasses of the prairie. The flowers produce plenty of pollen all coming from the hundreds of anthers of each flower, which attracts plenty of insect visitors. Typically, you’ll find these cacti growing on south-facing exposures of well drained hills, often in sandy soils. The plants are also quite tough with a thick root that helps to keep them anchored.
Be on the lookout for this plant in July and be careful of its spines. The larger spines are quite sharp, but the smaller fine spines are barbed making their removal much more difficult.
