Opuntia chlorotica facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Opuntia chlorotica |
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| Scientific classification | |
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Opuntia
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chlorotica
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Opuntia chlorotica is a type of plant that belongs to the cactus family. It's a kind of prickly pear cactus, which means it has flat, paddle-shaped stems. This cactus grows naturally in the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. People often call it the pancake prickly pear, flapjack prickly pear, or dollarjoint prickly pear because its flat stems look like pancakes or dollar coins.
About the Pancake Prickly Pear
What it Looks Like
This cactus has a unique bluish-green color. It can grow in a bushy shape or stand tall and straight, reaching more than two meters (about 6.5 feet) high! Its flat, roundish stems are what give it its fun nicknames.
Where it Grows and Its History
The pancake prickly pear is found in dry, sunny places like deserts. Scientists have studied this cactus in places like the Waterman Mountains in Arizona. They looked at tiny plant parts called pollen from long ago. These studies show that Opuntia chlorotica was growing in northern Arizona even during the late Wisconsinan glaciation period. This was a very cold time when glaciers covered much of the Earth. It means this cactus has been around for a very long time!
