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 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