Cow’s Tongue; Lengua de Vaca (Opuntia linguiformis)
(All three names refer to the characteristic tongue-shaped joints)
How to identify and how it grows
The Cow’s Tongue is an oddly formed Prickly Pear which grows tongue-shaped joints a foot to thirty inches long. These flattened, tongue-shaped joints are about as wide as a man’s hand and a little thinner, covered with well spaced spicules and spines. The edges of the joints are also fringed with needlelike thorns which are dangerous to handle. These light greenish stems or joints form into thickets growing from three to five feet high and creating a very good hedge. The spicules are a light yellowish; some of the spines are a straw color, and it is to be noted that about half of them are a pale purple and brown, not more than two inches long, the spicules about half as long. The flowers are about the diameter of a large cup and are very showy, of a beautiful satiny yellowish hue. The fruit is light purple, the flesh greenish, ripening in July.
This odd-looking cactus may be easily recognized among all other Prickly Pears by its characteristic tongue-shaped joints.
How to grow
Plants are not injured in outdoor zero temperatures, but for colder weather they should be covered or grown indoors. They grow readily from cuttings set about six inches deep in moist soil and watered lightly bi-weekly during the growing season. Cuttings should remain out of the ground for two weeks in shade before planting, to callus over the cut ends. Almost any kind of soil will answer.
Discus Prickly Pear (Opuntia discata)
(The names refer to the disk-shaped joints)