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Alright, I've been gone awhile, and would just like to start by saying you are all amazing at identifying plants. Now with that out of the way:
I have a place I like to go to in Lincoln County, Oklahoma. It is a mixture of woodlands, prarie and a lake. One of the most ubiquitous of all plants, is this species of cactus. I know the pictures are awful, but they are all about that same size. My guess is prickly pear cactus. I suppose that it has just evolved to be much smaller in the woodlands. But I have no real idea. Thanks!
KSBaptisia, I was looking on Wikipedia, and Jumping Cactus, also goes by 'Little Prickly Pear'. I just happened to see it on the side where there were a bunch of different Opuntia's, in the Opuntia article. I think that is probably what it is--Although, I am very concerned that it's official range does not include Arkansas. It is so Ubiquitious in both the Pineywoods of East Texas, and the cross timbers here in Lincoln County, Oklahoma, I cannot imagine it just stopping at the Interior Highlands of East Oklahoma or Arkansas (I assume when it is so abundent, it would need a state or two to completely disapear).
Anyway, One of the reasons I am so adament about putting the location, is that that is a major clue. If someone who lived in this area, who knew more than I about botany, they should know right away, that there are only a handful of possibilities it could be in Lincoln County, whereas, going on looks can be decieving!
Both the Cross Timbers and the Texas Pineywoods are primarily underlain with sandy soils. I would guess that the Interior Highlands are not? Opuntia fragilis is strongly associated with sandy soils. In Nebraska, for example, it has a disjunct distribution. It occurs in the Sandhills in the norhern part of the state, along the sand-bottomed rivers in the west, and in the Sandstone Prairies in the southeast corner, but pretty much nowhere in between. Where conditions suit it, it can be very abundant, to the point of being a menace. Where they don't, it is entirely absent.
Reminds me of Opuntia humifusa http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/62234/. From what I've seen, Opuntia fragilis is more "joint-like" and round as opposed to flat. We have native Opuntia fragilis on the Gulf Islands here as well as in the interior British Columbia.
"Both the Cross Timbers and the Texas Pineywoods are primarily underlain with sandy soils. I would guess that the Interior Highlands are not? Opuntia fragilis is strongly associated with sandy soils. In Nebraska, for example, it has a disjunct distribution. It occurs in the Sandhills in the norhern part of the state, along the sand-bottomed rivers in the west, and in the Sandstone Prairies in the southeast corner, but pretty much nowhere in between. Where conditions suit it, it can be very abundant, to the point of being a menace. Where they don't, it is entirely absent."
Great explaination KSBaptisia. I must say one thing, I might have mistaken the region I am in, the soil here is red. Astonishingly red. It is clay I believe. Regardless, your explanation cleared up my concern. Oklahoma really is amazing, It is the meeting point of several major geographic regions. This causes some strange mixtures of plants.
Growin, your right, you made a very keen observation about flat vs. round. I was thinking that earlier. All of the specimens (I've seen at least 50) are the exact same texture, and it is very flat and shriveled looking. Almost, like it is not meant to be growing there, yet there are hundreds scattered in the area.
