Opuntia macrocentra  Blackspine Prickly Pear
CACTUS.  A low prickly pear with creeping branches.  Pads light bluish green, may turn purple in winter.  Central spines very long, striped black and white, confined to areoles at the top of the pad.  Flowers yellow with red stripes.  Fruits bright red, oval.  Rare in the Empires in extremely dry, loose soil where few other plants will grow.
FAMILY:  Cactaceae (Cactus Family)