Opuntia microdasys

Opuntia microdasys forms a dense shrub 40-60 cm tall, occasionally more, composed of pad-like stems 6-15 cm long and 4-12 cm broad.

Instead of spines it has numerous white or yellow glochids 2-3 mm long in dense clusters.

Similar plants:

• Brasiliopuntia brasiliensis, Opuntia brasiliensis (Brazilian Prickly Pear)
• Consolea rubescens, Opuntia rubescens (Road Kill Cactus)
• Opuntia cochenillifera, Nopalea cochenillifera, Opuntia nuda (Cochineal Cactus, Warm hand, Velvet Opuntia, Nopales Opuntia, Nopal Cactus)
• Opuntia macrocentra, Opuntia santa-rita, Opuntia violacea var. santa-rita (Santa Rita Prickly Pear)
• Opuntia phaeacantha, Opuntia engelmanii (Prickly Pear)
• Opuntia rufida ()
• Opuntia sp. (Prickly Pear)
• Opuntia tomentosa (Tree Pear, Velvet Opuntia)