Opuntia keyensis | Key West Prickly Pear | Big Pine Key Florida Native Cactus

Opuntia keyensis has oddly been lumped in with o. stricta- however it is QUITE different.  Keyensis is a large, erect, multi-branched cactus that forms a shrub or small tree growing to 6 feet tall, maybe more, but shorter individuals are common as they are in any dry habitat. The bright-green cladodes are oval, obovate, or even spatulate–thick and 10-30 cm long. The spines are short and hidden within the 1 cm long glochids, but this prickly pear definitely has spines. The spines are stout, pink when new and salmon-colored at maturity. There are 4-13 spines per areole. The flowers are solitary or several per cladode and pale pink or salmon-colored. Stricta flowers are bright yellow.  The buds are short-pointed. The corolla is cup-like or short-campanulate, 3-3.5 cm wide, with relatively few tepals. The fruit is obovoid and 4-6 cm long, with a strong narrowing at the base.  Since there is debate about its species denomination, there are no conservation notes available that I can find. Sa