This cactus is popular because of its purple-gray color. It is called Purple Prickly Pear cactus or Opuntia Santa-rita.It has a deep gray-green skin tinged with purple. In cold weather, the purple becomes more pronounced.
You can see the glochids, which are the tiny barbed spines you see spread out all over the prickly pear pad and across the top of the pad. The tiny barbs from the glochids are very fine and get all over you and in you.
I prefer dealing with the long, sharp spines at the top of the cactus pad as they are easy to see and avoid.
I took this photo while hiking around the Boulders Resort and Spa in North Scottsdale. You can see it has raindrops that have tried to clean off the desert dust.
16 comments:
What an amazing color! I've never seen a cactus that wasn't green. Fascinating.
Oh wow, that's almost pink!
Julie, you know this flora intimately and teach us so much with your photographs and notes. Thank you.
That is a very attractive cactus. And I know what you mean about the tiny barbs (I have another Opuntia specie). Handle with care.
I didn't know a cactus could have this kind of beatiful color. I keep learning when visiting your blog:-)
I'm with the friends who've commented before: never seen nor could imagine there was cactus of such colour!
Have a great Sunday!
Cezar
I love the color, but it just looks like it would hurt.
These have such a gorgeous color.
I'm not used to seeing this color either. Thank you for sharing Julie.
I had no idea there was a cactus of such beautiful, different coloring. Thank you so much for introducing me!
Amazing. I have never seen a cactus in this color before. I have always seen them in green.
This cacti would look fantastic next to the Palos Verdes tree.
Hilda expresses my thoughts exactly. Shape and colour are both fascinating and unusual.
Interesting. I've seen only the green ones!!
For a thing so beautiful, those jabbers look awfully mean!
this is attractive and look like to tongue.
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