The California Poppy and CLHS
The Engelmann Prickly Pear planted on our campus grew
from a single pad and in nearly a year and a half has grown to the size shown
in this picture.
Kingdom: Plantae
Common Name:
Engelmann's Prickly Pear
Scientific Name: Opuntia engelmannii
Taxonomy:
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Manoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Cactaceae
Genus: Opuntia
Species: engelmannii
Natural Range
The Engelmann Prickly Pear is found mostly in the
southwest states of the US. These states include California, Arizona, Nevada,
Utah, and New Mexico. It is even found as far as Mississippi. Click here to
see a distribution map.
Interesting Facts
These plants are the homes to many kinds of
desert animals. The pads are eaten by animals such as the javelina, jackrabbit,
and packrat, which are able to digestive the high amounts of oxalic acid
found in them. Their flowers bloom from April to May and last only 24 hours.
These also produce fruit, which ripens in July and August. This fruit is
edible to people and animals.
Links
Find out more here:
The California Poppy and CLHS
The Engelmann Prickly Pear planted on our campus grew
from a single pad and in nearly a year and a half has grown to the size shown
in this picture.