Citation: Haw., Syn. Pl. Succ. 191 (1812) var. stricta.

Synonymy: Cactus strictus Haw., Misc. Nat. 188 (1803); O. inermis DC., Prod. 3:473 (1828). , Opuntia stricta

Common name: Common prickly-pear, spiny pest-pear, smooth pest-pear, common prickly-pear.

Description:
Erect to 2 m high but mostly c. 1 m; often spineless or nearly so; spines if present 1 or 2, terete, to 4 cm long, yellow; joints flattened, obovate, 10-25 cm long, 7-16 cm wide; areoles distant, 35-50 mm apart, glochids yellow; leaves deciduous.

Flowers lemon-yellow, greenish on the outside.

Fruits 4-6 cm long, obovoid or pear-shaped, purple when ripe, pulp crimson.

	Opuntia stricta
Image source: fig 189a in Jessop J.P. & Toelken H.R. (Ed.) 1986. Flora of South Australia (4th edn).

Published illustration: Cunningham et al. (1982) Plants of western New South Wales, p. 504.

Distribution:  S.Aust.: GT, FR, EP, NL, MU, YP, SL.   Qld; N.S.W.; Vic.   Native to southern U.S.A. and tropical America. Conservation status: naturalised Flowering time: late spring — summer.

SA Distribution Map based on current data relating to specimens held in the State Herbarium of South Australia

Biology: No text

Author: Not yet available