仙人掌屬多肉植物，原產於北美東部，已入侵分北非、南歐、澳洲等地。株高約1m，莖直立或匍匐，容易分枝成叢。扁平莖圓形至橢圓形，每段長5~15cm，厚1cm，綠色或帶紫色。刺座黃色，有0.3cm長的芒刺；一般無刺或偶見有散生的灰、黑色針刺，針刺長2~2.5cm。新芽或有圓錐形葉，長0.8cm，僅短暫存在。花黃色，直徑5~7cm，日間開放。夏季開花。果實梨形，果熟紅紫色。

A succulent plant of the genus Opuntia, native to eastern North America and now invasive in North Africa, Southern Europe, and Australia. The plant can reach 1 m high, grows erect or creeping stems which are easily bifurcated into clumps. Flattened stems are round to oval in shape and formed by segments 5 - 15cm long each, 1 cm thick and green or purple in color. The areole is yellow with 0.3 cm long glochids; generally spineless or occasional gray or black needle-like spines 2 - 2.5 cm long. Sprouts may have 0.8 cm long conical leaves which only lasts briefly. Flowers yellow, 5 - 7cm in diameter, bloom during the day. Flowering in summer. Fruit pear-shaped, ripe reddish-purple.

栽培：全日照通風環境下可生長良好，日照充足時可促進開花。為了防止爛根等情形，需採用排水透氣的介質，介質酸性至鹼性均可。在原產地於冬季時植株會脫水塌軟於地面休眠；在臺灣因為低溫不足而無此現象，但仍需注意節水以助越冬。

The plant grows well in full-sun and ventilated conditions. Sufficient sun exposure can promote flowering. Plant in draining and breathable soil to avoid root rotting, either acid or alkaline soil is acceptable. In the native habitats, they would dehydrate, collapse and go dormant on the ground in winters. It’s not the case in Taiwan due to the warm climate, but it’s advised to reduce water use to help it overwinter.

生長強健，常作為沙漠的多肉植物造景使用。通常會因無刺的友善形象讓人忽略了小芒刺，在進行維護管理時要注意勿讓芒刺刺傷。莖與果實於原產地作為蔬菜與水果食用。

A hardy plant, often planted in desert landscape. The spineless plant may look unharmful, but beware of the fine glochids when performing maintenance work. The stems and fruits are consumed as vegetables and fruits in the native habitats