Click on any image to open the slideshow
Opuntia cochenillifera (L.)Mill.
Cochineal Cactus
Cochineal Nopal Cactus
Synonym(s): Nopalea cochenillifera (Linnaeus) Salm-Dyck
Not native to Florida
A rare cactus of disturbed sites in scattered counties of the central and south peninsula. Native to Mexico, also introduced in Hawaii, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.
This pricklypear trunk is composed of flattened, spineless segments. Petals are bright red and are shorter than the stamens.
Opuntia cochenillifera is a member of the Cactaceae - Cactus family.
Other species of the Opuntia genus in the Wild Florida Photo database:
Opuntia austrina - DEVIL'S-TONGUE
Opuntia drummondii - COCKSPUR PRICKLYPEAR
Opuntia mesacantha var. lata - SOUTHEASTERN PRICKLYPEAR
Opuntia mesacantha var. mesacantha - LONGSPINE EASTERN PRICKLYPEAR
Opuntia stricta - ERECT PRICKLYPEAR
Atlas of Florida Vascular Plants (Institute for Systemic Botany) profile for this species
iNaturalist profile for this species
USDA Plant Profile for this species
Date record last modified: Dec 24, 2023
