Opuntia Gosseliniana

Pads of opuntia gosseliniana may be purple or green depending on environmental conditions; when purple the species resembles opuntia santa rita, which is found in the same area, but this has generally shorter spines (or no spines), larger pads and forms larger clusters. The cactus also has similarities to opuntia macrocentra, and is sometimes classed as a variety of opuntia chlorotica. Spine cover is variable; some areoles have none, others (towards the pad edges) have from 1 to 4 spines, white or brownish. Glochids are also more pronounced around the edges of the pads.