Opuntia littoralis

A species of prickly pear cactus known by the common name coastal prickly pear. Commonly confused with Opuntia semispinosa, which has longer, sometimes spineless pads. It is native to southern California and Baja California, where it grows in coastal sage scrub and chaparral habitat. It generally occurs in dense clumps spreading several meters wide and up to a meter tall. It seldom hybridizes with Opuntia oricola. The branches are made up of orbicular flat segments up to 22 centimeters long. It is covered in clusters of yellowish spines 2 to 4 centimeters long. The flowers are yellow. The fruit is purplish red, up to 5 centimeters long, and less spiny than Opuntia oricola fruit. An important wildlife plant.