''Opuntia dulcis'' has been described as a variety of, and is confused with, ''O. phaeacantha''. However, ''O. dulcis'' is a larger plant with ascending branches, to 2 ft (exceptionally 4 ft). While it is a larger plant, immature specimens of O. dulcis may overlap in size with O. phaeacantha.

Details

''Opuntia dulcis'' resembles ''O. engelmannii'' in some ways but does not become as erect or large as that species. Also, the spines of ''O. dulcis'' are finer than those of ''O. engelmannii''. ''O. dulcis'' is found across the deserts of the

southwestern United States The Southwestern United States, also known as the American Southwest or simply the Southwest, is a geographic and cultural region of the United States that generally includes Arizona, New Mexico, and adjacent portions of California, Colorado, Ne ...

and northern

Mexico Mexico (Spanish: México), officially the United Mexican States, is a country in the southern portion of North America. It is bordered to the north by the United States; to the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; to the southeast by Guatema ...

. It is common in trans-Pecos

Texas Texas (, ; Spanish language, Spanish: ''Texas'', ''Tejas'') is a state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States. At 268,596 square miles (695,662 km2), and with more than 29.1 million residents in 2 ...

New Mexico ) , population_demonym = New Mexican ( es, Neomexicano, Neomejicano, Nuevo Mexicano) , seat = Santa Fe , LargestCity = Albuquerque , LargestMetro = Tiguex , OfficialLang = None , Languages = English, Spanish ( New Mexican), Navajo, Ker ...

, and

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. It has been observed in the mountains of southern

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.. Opuntia_dulcis,_New_Mexico.jpg, Opuntia dulcis near Artesia, New Mexico

References

External links

''Opuntia dulcis'' photo gallery at Opuntia Web''Cacti of the Trans-Pecos and Adjacent Areas (see page 169)''
{{Taxonbar, from=Q30689038 dulcis