| Common Name |
Cow's Tongue Prickly Pear Cactus |
| Latin Name |
Opuntia engelmannii var.
linguiformis |
| Native Habitat |
Southwest deserts and grasslands below 6,000 feet |
| Soil |
Dry, decomposed granite, sand, clay loam low in organic
content, well drained |
| Water |
None to once per month |
| Height X Width |
Maximum 10 X 8 feet, usual 4 feet X 4 feet |
| Protective Mechanism |
Spines |
| Leaves |
Evergreen, light green |
| Garden Suitability |
Sonoran |
| Ornamental Value |
Yellow flowers in spring, purple fruits |
| Nature Value |
Flowers used by bees, fruits eaten by birds and mammals |
| Native American Uses |
Fruits and pads eaten |
| Links |
|
| Images, and
data |
http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/67791/index.html |
| Images and data |
http://www.delange.org/CowsTongue/CowsTongue.htm |
| Images and data |
http://www.desert-tropicals.com/Plants/Cactaceae/Opuntia_linguiformis.html |
| Images |
http://www.cas.vanderbilt.edu/bioimages/species/openl2.htm |
| Distribution map |
http://www.efloras.org/object_page.aspx?object_id=13218&flora_id=1 |
