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Home / Cactaceae / Opuntia / Opuntia fragilis

Opuntia fragilis

Brittle Cactus, Brittle Opuntia
Other regional names: Brittle Prickly Pear +7 more
  • Brittle Prickly Pear
  • Brittle Prickly Pear Cactus
  • Brittle Pricklypear
  • Fragile Cactus
  • Fragile Prickly Pear
  • Jumping Cactus
  • Little Prickly Pear
  • Little Pricklypear
Also known as: Cactus fragilis Haw. +16 more
  • Cactus fragilis Haw.
  • Cactus fragilis Nutt.
  • Opuntia brachyarthra Engelm. & J.M.Bigelow
  • Opuntia fragilis f. brachyarthra (Engelm. & J.M.Bigelow) Schelle
  • Opuntia fragilis subsp. brachyarthra (Engelm. & J.M.Bigelow) F.A.C.Weber
  • Opuntia fragilis subsp. brachyarthra (Engelm. & J.M.Bigelow) W.A.Weber
  • Opuntia fragilis var. brachyarthra (Engelm. & J.M.Bigelow) J.M.Coult.
  • Opuntia fragilis var. caespitosa L.H.Bailey
  • Opuntia fragilis var. denudata E.F.Wiegand & Backeb.
  • Opuntia fragilis var. fragilis
  • Opuntia fragilis var. parviconspicua Backeb.
  • Opuntia fragilis var. tuberiformis L.H.Bailey
  • Opuntia pes-corvi J.LeConte ex Chapm.
  • Opuntia pescorvae J.LeConte ex Chapm.
  • Opuntia sabinii Pfeiff.
  • Terecaulis fragilis (Nutt.) Berge
  • Tunas fragilis (Nutt.) Nieuwl. & Lunell
Botanical Data
  • Taxonomic Rank: Species
  • Botanical Family: Cactaceae
  • WCVP Morphological Data: Recorded natively as a succulent subshrub.

Opuntia fragilis (commonly known as Brittle Cactus or Brittle Opuntia) is a shrubby cactus belonging to the Cactaceae family. Found natively in North America, this species is primarily associated with temperate conditions.

Macro Climate
Temperate
Plant Type
Shrub
Plant Type
Cactus

Native Range

Continents (WGSRPD)
NORTHERN AMERICA
Regions (WGSRPD)
Eastern Canada, North-Central U.S.A., Northeastern U.S.A., Northwestern U.S.A., South-Central U.S.A., Southwestern U.S.A., Western Canada
Botanical Countries (WGSRPD L3)
Alberta, Arizona, British Columbia, California, Colorado, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Manitoba, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Ontario, Oregon, Saskatchewan, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin, Wyoming

Introduced Range

Plants flagged as 'Introduced' have been transported outside their native historical range by human activity. While many are common ornamentals, some may become naturalized or invasive in local environments. Local ecological guidelines require verification prior to planting.
Botanical Countries (Non-Native)
Argentina Northeast, Bulgaria

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