General: Porcupine Pricklypear (Opuntia polyacantha var. hystricina) is a low-growing cactus with broad, thin stem segments (pads). The pads are medium-sized for a pricklypear (to about 5-inches long by 3-inches wide). The spines are clustered, long (to about 4-5 inches), and straight, some of which are dark colored (brown to black). Flowers are yellow to magenta.

This is mostly a Utah variety with the range stretching south through the Utah-Colorado-Arizona-New Mexico border region, plus a band reaching into east-central Nevada, including Basin and Range National Monument and Gold Butte National Monument.

Family: Cactus (Cactaceae)