Opuntia x columbiana (grizzlybear prickly pear) is a low growing, mat-forming, possibly hybrid cactus found in BC, Washington, Idaho and Oregon. The origin of the presumed hybrid is not certain, but it may be a product of hybridization between
Opuntia fragilis and
Opuntia polycantha. Habitat for the species is described by Pinkava in
Flora North America as dark basaltic cliffs and derived sands at 100-800 m elevation (
Pinkava 2010). Grizzlybear prickly pear is very similar looking to
Opuntia fragilis (brittle prickly pear) but may be separated from it by the number and length of spines. The green stem segments are glabrous, and are flattened and narrowly to broadly obovate. They can sometimes easily detach--though not as easily or often as
O. fragilis--which allows for dispersal. A complete species description is provided in
Flora North America Online. Flowers are often pale yellow, and appear in late June and early July.
Previously in British Columbia, two species of Opuntia were recognized as present: O. fragilis and O. polycantha. However, some do not recognize the presence of O. polycantha in BC and provincially we now recognize O. fragilis and O. x columbiana as present. This follows the Flora of North America treatment for Opuntia. Identification of cacti in the province is not completely clear, however, and different 'forms' of Opuntia have been observed here. Read more about Opuntia in BC and Washington.
