here are alot of photos of what is most likely opuntia x columbiana in habitat in different places throughout the painted hills unit . I hope everyone finds this interesting.

dog provided for scale





See the cactus?

Can you still see the cactus?


a good way to collect cacti

the haul

the area

Mark, thanks for the photos. I am very interested in Opuntia. I think it would be good for this topic to remain dedicated to Opuntia in Washington State and surrounding states. This is to better appreciate the type of plants and how they look in nature. That for the case when the topic is not focused on a particular species.
Among cladodes collected on clothes, I think they are and Opuntia fragillis. Others I think they are Opuntia x columbiana, as you mentioned.

http://www.desertnorthwest.com...

I think, for photo in habitat, is good to indicate and the shooting date. And a more precise name of location.
Opuntia should bloom soon. Or perhaps more to the North, is more late flowering.

the photos were taken around red hill in the painted hills unit in wheeler co Oregon. the plants come from blm land but they were all over. it is in my opinion almoust impossible to tell the difference between opuntia like fragilis and columbia when they grow together. i have seen round pads with flat pads coming off, if you take the same cactus and plant it on two side of a hill it will look diffrent. and if you take 2 diffrent and plant in the same location sometimes they will grow identicly. The flowers know the truth but they are never in flower when i go out hunting....

the shooting date was aprox 1 week before post date