Columbia Gorge Prickly Pear (Opuntia columbiana)

Opuntia columbiana is a native cactus species that occurs in Eastern Washington, the Columbia river gorge, and parts of the Snake river in Oregon. This fragile cactus is one of 11 cactus species that occurs in Oregon and has a fairly limited range, so it’s pretty special to come across. Some papers report Opuntia columbiana to be a hybrid between Opuntia fragilis and Opuntia polycanthus, but others argue that this species forms stable, self-reproducing populations over large areas in the absence of these two species. Definitely needs more research to know for sure. This cactus was found in the Columbia River Gorge near the Dalles Dam growing prostrate on some loose, crumbly basalt rocks. Their pads are small, dull-green, fragile, and have 2-5 cm spines. They typically produce yellow flowers in the May-June, so I didn’t happen to catch them in bloom. I only saw two populations scattered along the river’s edge at Seufert Park, but I imagine there’s more as you go eastward into the gorge.