About Opuntia anahuacensis Griffiths
This species of prickly pear cactus is scientifically named Opuntia anahuacensis Griffiths. Plants of this species are short, growing roughly 1 to 2 feet tall and growing in a shrubby habit. Multiple individual plants can grow together to form thickets that measure 20 to 40 feet across. The cladodes of this species have a unique shape: they are obovate with a distinct neck. The original published description of the species noted that cladodes are yellowish green, but they can also be green, and very rarely blue-green. The fruit produced by this cactus is purplish in color. This species grows along the Gulf Coast of Texas, and may also grow in northern Mexico.
