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{{SPlantbox
{{SPlantbox
|genus=Opuntia
|familia=Cactaceae
|genus=Opuntia
|species=humifusa
|species=humifusa
|taxo_author=Raf.
|common_name=Eastern prickly pear
|habit=cacti-succulent
|lifespan=perennial
|exposure=sun
|water=dry
|features=flowers, edible, fruit, drought tolerant
|flowers=yellow
|Temp Metric=°F
|Temp Metric=°F
|jumpin=If this plant info box on watering; zones; height; etc. is mostly empty you can click on the edit tab and fill in the blanks!
|jumpin=If this plant info box on watering; zones; height; etc. is mostly empty you can click on the edit tab and fill in the blanks!
|image=Upload.png
|image=Prickly pear MN 2007.JPG
|image_width=240
|image_width=240
}}
}}
'''Eastern Prickly Pear''' (''Opuntia humifusa''), also known as '''Indian fig''', is a native [[cactus]] found in the northeastern part of [[North America]] and is found through [[New Jersey]], [[New York]] and the [[New England]] states, and even in parts of Eastern [[Canada]], e.g. southern [[Ontario]].
The green stems of this low-growing [[Perennial plant|perennial]] cactus are flattened and are formed of segments; barbed bristles are found around the surfaces of the segments. The flowers are yellow to gold in color and are found along the margins of mature segments. The flowers are waxy and sometimes have red centers. They measure 4-6 cm wide and bloom in the late spring.
The juicy and edible red [[fruit]]s measure from 3-5 cm. As the fruit matures, it changes colour from green to red, and often remains on the cactus until the following spring. There are 6 to 33 small, flat, light-colored [[seed]]s in each fruit.
This plant is very intolerant of shade. It thrives in full sun and well-drained [[soil]].
Some botanists treat this cactus as a variety ''Opuntia compressa'' var. ''humifusa'', or a synonym of ''Opuntia compressa''. Those recognising this species treat ''Opuntia rafinesquii'' as a junior synonym.
{{Inc|
{{Inc|
Opuntia humifusa, Raf. (O. Rafinesquii. Engelm. O. mesacantha, Raf.). Fig. 2602 (adapted from Pacific R. R. Report). A wide-spreading, prostrate plant, freely rooting from the lower margin of the joints, roots sometimes tuberous: joints obovate to orbicular, usually 2-5 in. long and 2-4 in. wide, sometimes twice as large, dark to light green: areoles with gray wool and bright reddish brown bristles; spines sometimes wanting, when present 1-3 and mostly marginal, stout, 1 in. long, white with darker tips and bases, frequently 1-3 small secondary spines also present: fls. 3 in. or less diam., golden yellow, frequently with reddish center: fr. slender-clavate or broader, 1½-2 in. long, yellowish red to purple, with insipid purplish pulp; seeds comparatively large. W. Cent. U. S.—An exceedingly variable species of wide distribution and imperfectly known. Many varieties have been described, some of which are in the trade. The extreme forms vary greatly from the type. Of these forms vars. Greenii, oplocarpa, cymochila, stenochila and macrorhiza, Hort., have appeared in the trade.
Opuntia humifusa, Raf. (O. Rafinesquii. Engelm. O. mesacantha, Raf.). A wide-spreading, prostrate plant, freely rooting from the lower margin of the joints, roots sometimes tuberous: joints obovate to orbicular, usually 2-5 in. long and 2-4 in. wide, sometimes twice as large, dark to light green: areoles with gray wool and bright reddish brown bristles; spines sometimes wanting, when present 1-3 and mostly marginal, stout, 1 in. long, white with darker tips and bases, frequently 1-3 small secondary spines also present: fls. 3 in. or less diam., golden yellow, frequently with reddish center: fr. slender-clavate or broader, 1½-2 in. long, yellowish red to purple, with insipid purplish pulp; seeds comparatively large. W. Cent. U. S.—An exceedingly variable species of wide distribution and imperfectly known. Many varieties have been described, some of which are in the trade. The extreme forms vary greatly from the type. Of these forms vars. Greenii, oplocarpa, cymochila, stenochila and macrorhiza, Hort., have appeared in the trade.
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}}
<gallery perrow=5>
<gallery perrow=5>
Image:Eastern prickly pear fruit.jpg|The fruit of the Eastern Prickly Pear
Image:Opuntia humifusa ottawa il thecoldmidwest.jpg|Eastern Prickly Pear growing wild in northern Illinois
Image:Upload.png| photo 1
Image:Upload.png| photo 1
Image:Upload.png| photo 2
Image:Upload.png| photo 2