Arizona Wild Flowers
Wildflower Pictures And Photos

Cow's Tongue Prickly Pear Cactus
Opuntia engelmannii var. linguiformis

Cow's Tongue Prickly Pear Cactus, Opuntia engelmannii var. linguiformis - These Plants Are About Four Feet Tall. Photo Taken May 3, 2005, In Phoenix; Flower Buds Are Just Opening.

Cow's Tongue Cactus	Pads Shaped Like A Cow's Tongue
Cow's Tongue Cactus Thorn Arrangement	Flower: Bright Yellow
More Gold Color	Even More Golden

Cow's Tongue Prickly Pear Cactus Opuntia engelmannii var. linguiformis, Cactus Family ( Cactaceae ), Cow's Tongue Prickly Pear Cactus. Also called Cow Tongue Prickly Pear or Lengua de vaca. Our favorite name sometimes used is "Lawyers Tongue!" This particular Opuntia was found native to a limited area in Bexar County, Texas. First described by Griffiths in 1908. The location was documented by Del Weniger as being just south of the town of China Grove and Sayers, Texas. This particular Opuntia has been widely accepted and now grows in many areas outside the original range. The stems have been found to grow to almost 2 feet in length and are armed with the typical yellow spines of the engelmannii species. The real "Cow Tongue" look distinguishes this plant from all other Opuntias. Height: Up To About 6 feet in height and up to 8 feet wide.. Flowers: This Opuntia has flowers that are 2 inches wide and yellow in color. Blooms May - June. Blooming Time: May - June. Stem: Up to 2' in length looking like a cow's tongue. Fruit: Large red edible fruit in late summer.. Leaves: Cactus thorns are modified leaves. Their shape conserves water and adds protection to the cactus plant. Thorns: Small Red - Brown in Color. Found: Lower Elevations of the Sonoran Desert of Arizona and California. Also Sonora, Mexico. On sandy desert, and gravel slopes in the deserts and grass lands. Elevation: 0 - 3000 Feet. Habitat: On sandy desert, and gravel slopes in the deserts and grass lands. Common landscape plant. Miscellaneous: Flowering Photos Taken May 3, 2005 In phoenix.