What is a cactus looks like?

The prickly pear cactus genus [Opuntia spp] numbers over 360 species. There's no such thing as a uniform description for or look to the genus' members. For example, their common names may range from prickly pear, to Indian fig, to cholla, to bunny ears. Their heights may range from a couple of inches or centimeters to nearly 20 feet/6 meters tall. Their shapes may resemble a series of fleshy pads that look like Badminton rackets, as in the case of Opuntia lindheimeri. Or they may have branching stems, as is the case with Opuntia tunicata. Their weapons against predators may take the form of barbed spines, or bristled tufts.

But what they all share is their love for the sun's heat and light, their comfort as the dominant vegetation of their niches, and their aversionto overwatering or waterlogging. Additionally, they share a budding into vivid spring, summer and fall flowers. They also share an appearance after blossoming of green, purple or red fruits. The fruits have seeds, but they may or may not have edible or flavorful tastes.