Photographs of Big Bend National Park

Keywords: Big Bend National Park, Texas, cactus, cacti, Chihuahuan Desert plants, spines, pads

Photograph Search

Big Bend National Park > Cacti > Photographs

Opuntia macrocentra - purple pricklypear, along the Dog Canyon Trail

Full size photograph (900 x 675 pixels)

Opuntia macrocentra is easily recognized by its purple pads, a color that becomes more pronounced after long periods without rainfall. The species tends to have dark spines that grow only from the top of the pads, but it is prone to hybridization, giving rise to a more uniform covering of spines, and less even purple coloration. Flowers are yellow with a red center, and appear in late spring.

License/purchase this photograph