Opuntia engelmannii
Cactus Apple, Cowtongue Cactus
Other regional names: Cowtongue Prickly Pear +5 more
- Cowtongue Prickly Pear
- Desert Prickly Pear
- Discus Prickly Pear
- Engelmann's Prickly Pear
- Few Spine Marble Fruit Prickly Pear
- Tuna
Also known as: Opuntia engelmannii Salm-Dyck +1 more
- Opuntia engelmannii Salm-Dyck
- Opuntia engelmannii var. flexispina (Griffiths) B.D.Parfitt & Pinkava
Botanical Data
- Taxonomic Rank: Species
- Botanical Family: Cactaceae
- WCVP Morphological Data: Recorded natively as a succulent shrub.
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Indigenous to North America, Opuntia engelmannii (commonly known as Cactus-Apple or Cowtongue Cactus) is a shrubby cactus belonging to the Cactaceae family. In its natural range, this species typically occurs in temperate conditions. There are naturally occurring varieties of this species, which are linked below.
Macro Climate
Temperate
Plant Type
Shrub
Plant Type
Cactus
Native Range
Continents (WGSRPD)
NORTHERN AMERICA
Regions (WGSRPD)
Mexico, South-Central U.S.A., Southeastern U.S.A., Southwestern U.S.A.
Botanical Countries (WGSRPD L3)
Arizona, California, Louisiana, Mexico Central, Mexico Gulf, Mexico Northeast, Mexico Northwest, Mexico Southwest, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, Utah
Introduced Range
An “Introduced” distribution indicates that the plant is recorded outside its native range in that region as a result of deliberate or accidental human introduction. Introduced records may include casual, naturalized or invasive populations, but do not include plants that are only cultivated or planted without self-sustaining populations.
Botanical Countries (Non-Native)
Baleares, Bulgaria, Canary Is., Cape Provinces, Free State, Italy, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Australia, South Carolina, Spain, Transcaucasus, Tunisia, Victoria, Virginia, Western Australia
Subspecies, Varieties & Forms