Common name: Creeping Pear
Opuntia humifusa (Raf.) Raf. APNI* Synonyms: Opuntia compressa (Salisb.) J.F.Macbr. APNI*
Description: Low, spreading, often clumped plant. Segments ± broad-obovate, compressed, mostly 3–15 cm long, dark green. Spines brownish to nearly white, absent from many areoles or 1 erect spine, 3–5 cm long, present at some areoles.
Flowers 5–9 cm diam., yellow sometimes with a red centre.
Fruit obovoid, 2–5 cm long, red, edible.
Distribution and occurrence: Not widespread, naturalized in Singleton - Muswellbrook area. Native of N Amer.
NSW subdivisions: *NC, *CWS
Text by G. J. Harden
Taxon concept: Flora of NSW 1 (1990)
APNI* Provides a link to the Australian Plant Name Index (hosted by the Australian National Botanic Gardens) for comprehensive bibliographic data
***The AVH map option provides a detailed interactive Australia wide distribution map drawn from collections held by all major Australian herbaria participating in the Australian Virtual Herbarium project.
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