Opuntia dillenii

It is a large-sized species of cactus. The stems are much-branched and consist of a series of flattened fleshy. They are hairless and covered in small raised bumps which bear tiny spiny bristles. The leaves are reduced to small, slightly curved, cone-shaped structures and are quickly shed.

The flowers are bright yellow and sometimes have greenish or pinkish colored markings on the outer petals. They are borne singly on fleshy bases and are mostly found along the margins of the stem segments. The immature fruit is green, but they turn reddish-purple in color as they mature. The reddish or purplish colored pulp in the center of the fruit contains large numbers of seeds. These seeds are generally yellow or pale brown in color and somewhat rounded in shape.