About Opuntia monacantha Haw.
Opuntia monacantha is a succulent, thorny shrub that grows in an almost tree-like form, with multiple branches and a widely expanded branching crown. It can reach a height of up to 5 meters. Its oval to elongated shoots are narrowed at the base, shiny green, and relatively thin, measuring 4 to 10 inches long. Its widely spaced areoles bear brownish glochids. It typically has one straight brown thorn, 3 to 4 centimeters long, though rarely 2 to 3 thorns may be present. Its dark yellow flowers grow up to 8 centimeters in diameter. Its pear-shaped red fruits are thornless and reach up to 7 centimeters in length. This species is native to Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay, and is naturalized in Australia and South Africa. It can be found up to altitudes of 1000 meters, and its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest and sandy shores.
