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OLD MAN PRICKLY PEAR
Flower
Form
Located:
Found in abundance in the West and Southwest of the United States, and throughout much of Mexico.Identification:
All have flat, fleshy pads that look like large leaves; the pads are actually modified branches or stems that serve several functions -- water storage, photosynthesis and flower production. Flower is yellow, pink or red. Opunita Erinacea height is up to 2 feet, forming 4 foot wide clumps. The seeds are glabrous, flattened, oblong to sub-circular, and 0.2 inch (5 mm) in diameter, the root system is shallow and fibrous. The fruit is a berry, often with spines or bristles.Description:
Suited to hot dry summers and moderate winters. These cacti can be hardy to -40 degrees Fahrenheit and grow in brutally hot exposures that few plants can withstand. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by Insects.Importance:
Used to treat type II diabetes, diarrhea, and stomach ache.