Opuntia polyacantha - prairie pricklypear
Opuntial polyacantha inhabits short statured sagebrush steppe with high abundance and diversity of native plant species, which is taken as an indication of infrequent disturbance. Here plains prickly pear grows on the Chugwater Formation just west of the Horseshoe Bend area of the Bighorn River, Big Horn County, Wyoming. Prairie pricklypear is located at the center of this photo. The shrub front left is Krascheninnikovia lanata, winterfat, and the forb front right is Xanthisma (Machaeranthera) grindelioides, rayless tansyaster. The shrub in back at center is Ericameria nauseosa var. nauseosa.
Opuntia polyacantha - prairie pricklypear
Opuntial polyacantha inhabits short statured sagebrush steppe with high abundance and diversity of native plant species, which is taken as an indication of infrequent disturbance. Here plains prickly pear grows on the Chugwater Formation just west of the Horseshoe Bend area of the Bighorn River, Big Horn County, Wyoming. Prairie pricklypear is located at the center of this photo. The shrub front left is Krascheninnikovia lanata, winterfat, and the forb front right is Xanthisma (Machaeranthera) grindelioides, rayless tansyaster. The shrub in back at center is Ericameria nauseosa var. nauseosa.