Flower ID: IMG_6930.JPG-06-16-2021 Flower name (scientific): Opuntia macrorhiza Engelmann PY: 1850. Pronunciation guide: (phonetic spelling) oh-POON-tee-ah (or o-PUN-te-a) mak-rorh-E-za Flower name (common): Plains Prickly Pear Family name (common): Cactus Family name (scientific): Cactaceae Scientific name origin: Genus: Named by the French botanist de Tournefort for a plant growing in Opus (or Opous), a town in Greece. Specific epithet: Latin for large roots. Common name origin: From its habitat, the many sharp spines, and for the fruit. Flower description: Size: 2.0 to 3.0 inches (5.1 to 7.6 cm) Petal count: 7 Color: yellow Other: flower arrangement, None Plant description: Size: 4 to 12 inches (10 to 30 cm) Stem hairy: Other: Leaf description: type is simple Size: Color: Hairy: Other: Shape: leaf, Origin (native, introduced, invasive): Native Status (common, uncommon, threatened, rare): Uncommon Bloom time (typical): May to July Cycle (annual, biennial, perennial): Perennial Habitat: Prairies, plains, sun or semi-shade, sandy to loamy soils, dry. Fruit: Seed: Importance to wildlife: Similar species (if any): Opuntia fragilis (Brittle Pricklypear) and Opuntia humifusa (Eastern pricklypear) have a resemblance to Opuntia macrorhiza. The flowers of Opuntia fragilis are about 40 to 50 mm wide, the fruit tan in color and 10 to 30 mm long, and the seeds tan to gray and 5 to 6 mm in size. The flowers of Opuntia humifusa are about 50 to 75 mm wide, the fruit green to brown to red and 30 to 50 mm long, and the seeds tan and 3.5 to 4.5 mm long. The flowers of Opuntia macrorhiza are about 50 to 75 mm wide, the fruit yellow to dull red and 25-40 mm long, and the seeds tan colored and 4 to 5 mm long. Ethnobotany: No recorded uses by tribes from Wisconsin. The Navajo used the plant to help with removal of thee placenta at childbirth. They also used the fruit as a food source (Moerman, p. 367, 1998). Latitude: Longitude: Altitude: Distribution: In Wisconsin: (Columbia, Dane, Grant, Green, Green Lake, Iowa, Jackson, La Crosse, Marquette, Monroe, Pepin, Richland, Sauk, Waushara) Click here for distribution map In US: (AR, AZ, CO, IA, ID, IL, KS, LA, MN, MO, MT, NE, NM, OH, OK, SD, TX, UT, WI, WY) Click here for distribution map In Canada: References: Synonym(s): Basionym: na Homotypic Synonym(s): Heterotypic Synonym(s): Autonym: na Wetland Status (NC): Not listed Wetland Status (MW): Not listed