Opuntia ammophila buds are distinct with recurved tepals, and the flowers themselves are light-yellow with cream-colored stigmas. The plant is infrequently encountered in mid-Florida. Opuntia ammophila Opuntia ammophila, the devil's-tongue, is a species of prickly pear cactus in Florida. Individuals typically occur singly and do not generally form dense thickets. "O. ammophila" was once considered a variety of "O. humifusa"; however, it is a distinct species. Among their many differences, "O. ammophila" has gray-green cladodes rather than green or grass-green. "Opuntia ammophila" can grow to the height of humans, and large plants with thick trunks were encountered 100 years ago. However, now
Opuntia ficus-indica the wild origin of "O. ficus-indica" is likely to have been in Mexico due to the fact that its close genetic relatives are found in central Mexico. "Opuntia ficus-indica" is polyploid, hermaphrodite and autogamous. As "Opuntia" species grow in semi-arid environments, the main limiting factor in their environment is water. They have developed a number of adaptations to dry conditions, notably succulence. The perennial shrub "Opuntia ficus-indica" can grow up to 3-5m height, with thick, succulent and oblong to spatulate stems called cladodes. It has a water-repellent and sun-reflecting waxy epidermis. Cladodes that are 1–2 years old produce flowers, the