Subspecies, varieties, forms and cultivars of plants belonging to the Opuntia macrorhiza group

• Opuntia macrorhiza Engelm.: has only moderately glaucous stem segments that may reach 10 cm in length and diameter and basically yellow flowers.
• Opuntia macrorhiza subs. potosina (Hern.-Valencia) U.Guzmán & Mandujano
• Opuntia macrorhiza subs. pottsii (Salm-Dyck) U.Guzmán & Mandujano: has very glaucous compact stem segments reaching 5-6 cm in length and diameter, longer than wide, and distinctly stipitate. It is easily distinguished from other varieties of O. macrorhiza by its red flowers (as opposed to yellow), and very slender spines.
• Opuntia pottsii var. montana n.n.: (subsp. pottsii) Joints mostly wider than long. Spines usually white. Fruit mostly chunky and short, usually pinkish. Distribution: Areas of conifer or oak woodland above 1,800 m, occasional in grasslands at lower elevations.