A classic prickly pear cactus spotted and confirmed in LA County
iNaturalist: haileymercer
Native Plants
If you've ever eaten nopales or prickly pear fruit at a farmers market, this is the same cactus, and spotting it growing wild or in a nearby yard tells you how well it thrives in Southern California's dry climate.
Someone in Los Angeles County photographed a cactus called Indian fig opuntia, and other naturalists confirmed the identification, making it a verified record. This cactus has flat, paddle-shaped segments covered in spines and is well known for its edible pads (nopales) and sweet fruit (prickly pear), and it grows easily across warm, dry parts of California.
Key Findings
Observation reached 'research-grade' status on iNaturalist, meaning the species ID was confirmed by community consensus
Location recorded in Los Angeles County, California, a region where this species is both cultivated and naturalized
Species is Opuntia ficus-indica, a widely grown cactus valued for edible pads and fruit
chevron_right Technical Summary
A spiny, pad-forming cactus known as Indian fig opuntia was confirmed growing in Los Angeles County through a verified citizen-science sighting. It's a widely cultivated and naturalized species in Southern California, often grown for its edible pads and fruit.
Abstract Preview
Original paper
Indian fig opuntia (Opuntia ficus-indica) observed in Los Angeles County, US-CA, US
Research-grade observation of Indian fig opuntia in Los Angeles County, US-CA, US.
open_in_new Read full abstractAbstract copyright held by the original publisher.
Species Mentioned
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Opuntia ficus-indica, the Indian fig opuntia, fig opuntia, or prickly pear, is a species of cactus that has long been a domesticated crop plant grown in agricultural economies throughout arid and semiarid parts of the world. O. ficus-indica is the most widespread and most commercially important c...