Opuntia lindheimeri lindheimeri" is no exception. Opuntia lindheimeri Opuntia lindheimeri is s cactus which is treated by some botanists as a species separate and distinct from "O. engelmannii". Britton and Rose also considered that "O. lindheimeri" is a stand-alone species as did Engelmann who described it in 1850. The point is not settled, and other botanists accept "O. lindheimeri" as a variety of "O. engelmannii". Whatever their taxonomic relationship, the plants are easily distinguished when grown side-by-side and do not generally overlap in their natural ranges. Almost any large "Opuntia" in TX, NM, or AZ has probably been misidentified or misunderstood over
Opuntia dulcis common in trans-Pecos Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona. It has been observed in the mountains of southern Nevada.. Opuntia dulcis Opuntia dulcis has been described as a variety of, and is confused with, "O. phaeacantha". However, "O. dulcis" is a larger plant with ascending branches, to 2 ft (exceptionally 4 ft). While it is a larger plant, immature specimens of O. dulcis may overlap in size with O. phaeacantha. "Opuntia dulcis" resembles "O. engelmannii" in some ways but does not become as erect or large as that species. Also, the spines of "O. dulcis" are finer than those of "O.