Opuntia fragilis aka Loose Prickly Pear

Opuntia fragilis, also known as brittle pricklypear or little prickly pear, is a sun-loving cactus that is native to Western North America and some Midwestern states like Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin, and Michigan. It can also be found in several Canadian provinces and as far north as 56°N latitude in British Columbia. The cactus has oval or cylindrical flattened joints that are whitish-green and smooth, measuring up to 3 inches in length. These joints have 5 to 8 greyish-brown tipped spines of 1 inch extending from multiple small, white areoles, and they drop off easily. The species bears pale yellow flowers in the summer, which rarely produce dry, spiny fruit. The genus has the largest membership of sun-loving species, and some species have been banned in Australia because of their rapid growth. The brittle prickly pear is a popular houseplant that requires very little water to thrive and does well in long-lasting, direct light. It should be placed less than 1 foot from a window. Additionally, there is an isolated and possibly genetically unique population in Eastern Ontario, known as the "Kaladar population."