Griffiths, Annual Report of the Missouri Botanical Garden 22: 29, 1911. 

Holotype; Herbarium; Herbarium (as O. occidentalis)    

Original Citation

What is Opuntia demissa?

O. demissa is a California species. It is a low prostrate or half-ascending species, with main branches residing on edge on the ground and others ascending from them, or often no more than
two cladodes high.

Details

O. demissa has subcircular, oval, or obovate cladodes that may be 18 x 18 cm, but are often only 15 cm. They are yellowish green and may be slightly glaucous. Leaves are large, slightly flattened, and subulate, about 4 x 12 mm. Spines are white, but can be brownish proximally. Spines are generally erect and spreading, but they may be curled in various ways. Flowers are yellow with the outer tepals tinged with red. The style is red and the stigma is green. The red fruit is subglobose or obovate. It grows near and back from the coast. In the past, the species has been confused with other California species. 

The type locality is in the San Diego, California area but has been found north to Santa Barbara. 

Other notes

The original description described O. demissa as a variable plant. 

Opuntia demissa black and white photo