Most often the plant has a round, branchy and juicy stem. The stem consists of segments of a flat oval shape, which are located separately from each other and come in different sizes. All segments are shrouded in hairs and thorns.

Opuntia have spines, which are called glochidia. These spines are bunches of sharp, thin but brittle setae located in pubescent areoles. The flowers of this plant are very large, there are a variety of colors (yellow, red and orange), shiny. Flowers are located singly, they have many short stamens and pistils.

The fruits of the Opuntia are the swollen leaves, juicy and fleshy. Inside the fruit contains seeds in the ossified membrane. Opuntia is an amazing plant, because it is able to develop new flowers from shoots with shoots, and seeds will not be present in fruits inside.

Opuntia can be seen in the steppe zones of Canada, South Argentina, Central America. It is grown in Turkmenistan, the Caucasus, and the Crimea.