| Common Name |
Black-Spine Prickly Pear, Purple Prickly Pear, Nopal
Violaceo |
| Latin Name |
Opuntia macrocentra |
| Native Habitat |
Texas, New Mexico, eastern Arizona, northern Mexico |
| Soil |
Dry decomposed granite, sand, limestone, low organic
content, well drained |
| Water |
None to once per month in summer |
| Height X Width |
4 feet X 4 feet |
| Protective Mechanism |
Spines |
| Leaves |
Purple evergreen with spines |
| Garden Suitability |
Sonoran |
| Ornamental Value |
Red and bright yellow flowers late spring to early
summer, red fruits |
| Nature Value |
Fruits eaten by birds and some mammals |
| Native American Uses |
Food |
| Links |
|
| Images and
data |
http://www.desert-tropicals.com/Plants/Cactaceae/Opuntia_macrocentra.html |
| Images and data |
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/64113/ |
| Images and data |
http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=OPMA8 |
| Images and data |
http://museum.utep.edu/chih/gardens/plants/NtoQ/opuntiamacro.htm |
| Images and data |
http://www.desertmuseumdigitallibrary.org/public/detail.php?id=ASDM07191&sp=Opuntia%20macrocentra |
| Images |
http://calphotos.berkeley.edu/cgi/img_query?stat=BROWSE&query_src=photos_flora_sci&where-genre=Plant&where-taxon=Opuntia+macrocentra&title_tag=Opuntia+macrocentra |
| Images and data |
http://www.delange.org/PricklyPearPurple/PricklyPearPurple.htm |
| Seeds |
http://www.b-and-t-world-seeds.com/carth.asp?species=Opuntia%20macrocentra&sref=9496 |
| Distribution map |
http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=OPMA8 |
| Data |
http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=242415203 |
