Opuntia pubescens

Opuntia pubescens also goes by the name abrojo. It is a member of the cactus family. This succulent holds water and grows as a low, small shrub. It grows across a broad part of tropical America. Its native range runs from Mexico to Venezuela and Paraguay. It grows in places that have a dry season. Wild plants live in dry forest and dry scrub. They also grow on roadsides and dry hills where livestock graze. Its range spans sea level to about 8,200 feet [2,500 metres].

This evergreen cactus has many branches that start at its base. Some lie along the ground, while others grow upward. Plants tend to reach about 0.3–3 feet [0.1–0.9 metres] tall. The source also lists a summary height of 1.6 feet [0.5 metres]. Long, narrow parts called segments join to form the stems. A cut across each segment shows a round or somewhat flat shape. Segments reach about 0.3–0.8 feet [0.1–0.25 metres] long. They are about 0.03–0.08 feet [0.01–0.025 metres] wide. These slim stems give the plant its low, branched shape.

Strong barbs on the spines catch on passing animals and objects. Stem segments caught this way can travel to new sites. The plant also has tiny, sharp spines called glochids. These break free when touched and can lodge in skin. Their barbs make them hard to pull out. Their small size makes them hard to see, too. They can cause marked skin irritation and pain. These spines pose a risk when you handle the plant. They also pose a risk when you work near it.

People grow this cactus as a live fence to keep livestock out. Its low growth, many branches, and barbed spines suit this use. Bees and other insects carry pollen between its flowers. The account gives no flower colour or bloom season. It gives no fruit details or food uses for this species. Its notes on food and medicine concern other species or the wider genus. Those notes do not show which parts of this species are edible. Nor do they show medical uses for this species.

The species still grows in large numbers across a wide range. This includes ground that people or animals have disturbed. The cited 2017 IUCN assessment lists it as Least Concern. Its wild sites link it with places that have dry seasons. Still, the evidence gives no precise garden water or light needs. It gives no frost limits and names no pests or diseases.