Opuntia Discolor
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''Opuntia'', commonly called prickly pear or pear cactus, is a
genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...
of
flowering plant Flowering plants are plants that bear flowers and fruits, and form the clade Angiospermae (), commonly called angiosperms. The term "angiosperm" is derived from the Greek words ('container, vessel') and ('seed'), and refers to those plants th ...
s in the
cactus A cactus (, or less commonly, cactus) is a member of the plant family Cactaceae, a family comprising about 127 genera with some 1750 known species of the order Caryophyllales. The word ''cactus'' derives, through Latin, from the Ancient Greek ...
family Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its ...
Cactaceae. Prickly pears are also known as ''tuna'' (fruit), ''sabra'', ''
nopal Nopal (from the Nahuatl word for the pads of the plant) is a common name in Spanish for ''Opuntia'' cacti (commonly referred to in English as ''prickly pear''), as well as for its pads. There are about 114 known species in Mexico, where it is ...
'' (paddle, plural ''nopales'') from the
Nahuatl Nahuatl (; ), Aztec, or Mexicano is a language or, by some definitions, a group of languages of the Uto-Aztecan language family. Varieties of Nahuatl are spoken by about Nahua peoples, most of whom live mainly in Central Mexico and have smaller ...
word for the pads, or nostle, from the Nahuatl word for the fruit; or paddle cactus. The genus is named for the
Ancient Greek Ancient Greek includes the forms of the Greek language used in ancient Greece and the ancient world from around 1500 BC to 300 BC. It is often roughly divided into the following periods: Mycenaean Greek (), Dark Ages (), the Archaic peri ...
city of
Opus ''Opus'' (pl. ''opera'') is a Latin word meaning "work". Italian equivalents are ''opera'' (singular) and ''opere'' (pl.). Opus or OPUS may refer to: Arts and entertainment Music * Opus number, (abbr. Op.) specifying order of (usually) publicatio ...
, where, according to
Theophrastus Theophrastus (; grc-gre, Θεόφραστος ; c. 371c. 287 BC), a Greek philosopher and the successor to Aristotle in the Peripatetic school. He was a native of Eresos in Lesbos.Gavin Hardy and Laurence Totelin, ''Ancient Botany'', Routledge ...
, an edible plant grew and could be propagated by rooting its leaves. The most common culinary species is the
Indian fig opuntia ''Opuntia ficus-indica'', the Indian fig opuntia, fig opuntia, or prickly pear, is a species of cactus that has long been a domesticated crop plant grown in agricultural economies throughout arid and semiarid parts of the world. ''O. ficus-indica ...
(''O. ficus-indica'').


Description

''O. ficus-indica'' is a large, trunk-forming, segmented cactus that may grow to with a crown of over in diameter and a trunk diameter of .
Cladode Phylloclades and cladodes are flattened, photosynthetic shoots, which are usually considered to be modified branches. The two terms are used either differently or interchangeably by different authors. ''Phyllocladus'', a genus of conifer, is name ...
s (large pads) are green to blue-green, bearing few spines up to or may be spineless. Prickly pears typically grow with flat, rounded cladodes (also called platyclades) containing large, smooth, fixed spines and small, hairlike prickles called
glochid Glochids or glochidia (singular "glochidium") are hair-like spines or short prickles, generally barbed, found on the areoles of cacti in the sub-family ''Opuntioideae''. Cactus glochids easily detach from the plant and lodge in the skin, causin ...
s that readily adhere to skin or hair, then detach from the plant. The flowers are typically large, axillary, solitary, bisexual, and epiperigynous, with a
perianth The perianth (perigonium, perigon or perigone in monocots) is the non-reproductive part of the flower, and structure that forms an envelope surrounding the sexual organs, consisting of the calyx (sepals) and the corolla (petals) or tepals when ...
consisting of distinct, spirally arranged
tepal A tepal is one of the outer parts of a flower (collectively the perianth). The term is used when these parts cannot easily be classified as either sepals or petals. This may be because the parts of the perianth are undifferentiated (i.e. of very ...
s and a
hypanthium In angiosperms, a hypanthium or floral cup is a structure where basal portions of the calyx, the corolla, and the stamens form a cup-shaped tube. It is sometimes called a floral tube, a term that is also used for corolla tube and calyx tube. It ...
. The
stamen The stamen (plural ''stamina'' or ''stamens'') is the pollen-producing reproductive organ of a flower. Collectively the stamens form the androecium., p. 10 Morphology and terminology A stamen typically consists of a stalk called the filame ...
s are numerous and in spiral or whorled clusters, and the
gynoecium Gynoecium (; ) is most commonly used as a collective term for the parts of a flower that produce ovules and ultimately develop into the fruit and seeds. The gynoecium is the innermost whorl of a flower; it consists of (one or more) ''pistils'' ...
has numerous inferior ovaries per carpel. Placentation is parietal, and the fruit is a berry with arillate seeds. Prickly pear species can vary greatly in habit; most are shrubs, but some, such as ''
Opuntia galapageia ''Opuntia galapageia'' is a species of cactus. It is endemic to the Galápagos Islands, part of Ecuador. Forms occurring on different islands have been treated as separate species and subtaxa of these species. ''Opuntia echios'', ''Opuntia heller ...
'' of the Galápagos, are trees.


Growth

File:Prickly Pear 2.JPG, Bud appears ► File:Prickly pear leaf bud.JPG, Bud grows ► File:Prickly Pear 2half.JPG, Bud begins pad transformation ► File:Opuntia leaf.JPG, Bud completes pad transformation ► File:Prickly Pear 4half.JPG, Pad continues growth ► File:Prickly Pear 5half.JPG, Edible pad (tender) ► File:Prickly Pear 5.JPG, Mature pad


Chemistry

''Opuntia'' contains a range of
phytochemicals Phytochemicals are chemical compounds produced by plants, generally to help them resist fungi, bacteria and plant virus infections, and also consumption by insects and other animals. The name comes . Some phytochemicals have been used as poison ...
in variable quantities, such as
polyphenols Polyphenols () are a large family of naturally occurring organic compounds characterized by multiples of phenol units. They are abundant in plants and structurally diverse. Polyphenols include flavonoids, tannic acid, and ellagitannin, some of ...
,
dietary minerals In the context of nutrition, a mineral is a chemical element required as an essential nutrient by organisms to perform functions necessary for life. However, the four major structural elements in the human body by weight (oxygen, hydrogen, carbon, ...
and
betalain Betalains are a class of red and yellow tyrosine-derived pigments found in plants of the order Caryophyllales, where they replace anthocyanin pigments. Betalains also occur in some higher order fungi. They are most often noticeable in the petals ...
s. Identified compounds under
basic research Basic research, also called pure research or fundamental research, is a type of scientific research with the aim of improving scientific theories for better understanding and prediction of natural or other phenomena. In contrast, applied resear ...
include
gallic acid Gallic acid (also known as 3,4,5-trihydroxybenzoic acid) is a trihydroxybenzoic acid with the formula C6 H2( OH)3CO2H. It is classified as a phenolic acid. It is found in gallnuts, sumac, witch hazel, tea leaves, oak bark, and other plants. It i ...
,
vanillic acid Vanillic acid (4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzoic acid) is a dihydroxybenzoic acid derivative used as a flavoring agent. It is an oxidized form of vanillin. It is also an intermediate in the production of vanillin from ferulic acid. Occurrence in natu ...
and
catechins Flavan-3-ols (sometimes referred to as flavanols) are a subgroup of flavonoids. They are derivatives of flavans that possess a 2-phenyl-3,4-dihydro-2''H''-chromen-3-ol skeleton. Flavan-3-ols are structurally diverse and include a range of compo ...
, as examples. The Sicilian prickly pear contains betalain,
betanin Betanin, or Beetroot Red, is a red glycosidic food dye obtained from beets; its aglycone, obtained by hydrolyzing away the glucose molecule, is betanidin. As a food additive, its E number is E162. The color of betanin depends on pH; between fo ...
, and
indicaxanthin Indicaxanthin is a type of betaxanthin, a plant pigment present in beets, in ''Mirabilis jalapa'' flowers, in cacti such as prickly pears (''Opuntia sp.'') or the red dragonfruit ('' Hylocereus costaricensis''). It is a powerful antioxidant. Med ...
, with highest levels in their fruits.


Taxonomy

When
Carl Linnaeus Carl Linnaeus (; 23 May 1707 – 10 January 1778), also known after his ennoblement in 1761 as Carl von Linné Blunt (2004), p. 171. (), was a Swedish botanist, zoologist, taxonomist, and physician who formalised binomial nomenclature, the ...
published ''
Species Plantarum ' (Latin for "The Species of Plants") is a book by Carl Linnaeus, originally published in 1753, which lists every species of plant known at the time, classified into genera. It is the first work to consistently apply binomial names and was the ...
'' in 1753 – the starting point for modern botanical nomenclature – he placed all the species of cactus known to him in one genus, ''Cactus''. In 1754, the Scottish botanist
Philip Miller Philip Miller FRS (1691 – 18 December 1771) was an English botanist and gardener of Scottish descent. Miller was chief gardener at the Chelsea Physic Garden for nearly 50 years from 1722, and wrote the highly popular ''The Gardeners Dictio ...
divided them into several genera, including ''Opuntia''. He distinguished the genus largely on the form of its flowers and fruits. Considerable variation of taxonomy occurs within ''Opuntia'' species, resulting in names being created for variants or subtypes within a species, and use of
DNA sequencing DNA sequencing is the process of determining the nucleic acid sequence – the order of nucleotides in DNA. It includes any method or technology that is used to determine the order of the four bases: adenine, guanine, cytosine, and thymine. Th ...
to define and isolate various species.


Species

''Opuntia'' hybridizes readily between species. This can make classification difficult, yielding a reticulate phylogeny where different species come together in hybridization. ''Opuntia'' also has a tendency for
polyploid Polyploidy is a condition in which the cells of an organism have more than one pair of ( homologous) chromosomes. Most species whose cells have nuclei ( eukaryotes) are diploid, meaning they have two sets of chromosomes, where each set contain ...
y. The ancestral diploid state was 2n=22, but many species are hexaploid (6n = 66) or octaploid (8n = 88). Species accepted by
Plants of the World Online Plants of the World Online (POWO) is an online database published by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. It was launched in March 2017 with the ultimate aim being "to enable users to access information on all the world's known seed-bearing plants by ...
, , are listed below, together with some species accepted by other sources, where the name preferred by Plants of the World Online is also given. *''
Opuntia abjecta ''Opuntia abjecta'' is a short cactus, perhaps to 15(25) cm tall. It occurs in the Florida Keys and has been conflated with ''O. triacantha''. Recent work shows that the two taxa are distinct. In addition to morphological and phylogenetic (DNA) ...
'' Small ex Britton & Rose *'' Opuntia aciculata'' Griffiths – Chenille prickly pear, old man's whiskers, cowboy's red whiskers * ''Opuntia'' × ''aequatorialis'' Britton & Rose * ''Opuntia'' × ''alta'' Griffiths *'' Opuntia altomagdalenensis'' Xhonneux *''
Opuntia amarilla ''Opuntia'', commonly called prickly pear or pear cactus, is a genus of flowering plants in the cactus family Cactaceae. Prickly pears are also known as ''tuna'' (fruit), ''sabra'', ''nopal'' (paddle, plural ''nopales'') from the Nahuatl word f ...
'' Griffiths *'' Opuntia ammophila'', synonym of ''
Opuntia austrina ''Opuntia'', commonly called prickly pear or pear cactus, is a genus of flowering plants in the cactus family (biology), family Cactaceae. Prickly pears are also known as ''tuna'' (fruit), ''sabra'', ''nopal'' (paddle, plural ''nopales'') from t ...
'' *''
Opuntia anacantha ''Opuntia anacantha'' is a species belonging to the family Cactaceae, native to northern Argentina and Bolivia. Description Shrubby cactus of about 60 cm high and 2.5 wide, normally prostrate, sometimes climbs due to its adventitious roo ...
'', synonym of ''
Opuntia elata ''Opuntia elata'' is a species of cactus found in Bolivia, Paraguay, southern Brazil, northern Argentina, and Uruguay. , Plants of the World Online accepted three varieties: *''Opuntia elata'' var. ''delaetiana'' F.A.C.Weber *''Opuntia elata'' ...
'' var. ''elata'' *'' Opuntia anahuacensis'' Griffiths * ''Opuntia'' × ''andersonii'' H.M.Hern., Gómez-Hin. & Bárcenas *''
Opuntia arechavaletae ''Opuntia'', commonly called prickly pear or pear cactus, is a genus of flowering plants in the cactus family (biology), family Cactaceae. Prickly pears are also known as ''tuna'' (fruit), ''sabra'', ''nopal'' (paddle, plural ''nopales'') from t ...
'' Speg. *''
Opuntia arenaria ''Opuntia arenaria'' was considered a variety of ''O. polyacantha'' by many botanists, and is still treated that way in the Flora of North America. However, ''O. arenaria'' is diploid and ''O. polyacantha'' is tetraploid. It was described by Enge ...
'', synonym of ''
Opuntia polyacantha ''Opuntia polyacantha'' is a common species of cactus known by the common names plains pricklypear,Johnson, K. A. 2000''Opuntia polyacantha''.In: Fire Effects Information System, nline U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mo ...
'' var. ''arenaria'' – dune prickly pear; diploid (2n=22) *''Opuntia articulata'', synonym of ''
Tephrocactus articulatus ''Tephrocactus articulatus'' is a species of cactus in the subfamily Opuntioideae of the plant family Cactaceae. They usually grow branches up to one foot tall with white flowers. Propagation is usually through cuttings. Stem segments easily bre ...
'' *'' Opuntia atrispina'' Griffiths *''
Opuntia auberi ''Opuntia auberi'' is a flower plant species belonging to the family Cactaceae. It is native to Central America in Cuba and the Antilles. Description ''Opuntia auberi'' grows in the form of a tree and reaches a height of 3 to 8 meters and mor ...
'' Pfeiff. *''
Opuntia aurantiaca ''Opuntia aurantiaca'', commonly known as tiger-pear, jointed cactus or jointed prickly-pear, is a species of cactus from South America. The species occurs naturally in Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay and is considered an invasive species in Afr ...
'' Lindl. *''
Opuntia aurea ''Opuntia aurea'' is a cactus that grows in Southern Utah and perhaps Northern Arizona. It is prostrate and forms irregularly sprawling plants to about three feet across. Occasionally a single pad may grow upright. The cactus can be spineless, ...
'' E.M.Baxter – hexaploid (2n=66) *'' Opuntia aureispina'' (S.Brack & K.D.Heil) Pinkava & B.D.Parfitt *''
Opuntia austrina ''Opuntia'', commonly called prickly pear or pear cactus, is a genus of flowering plants in the cactus family (biology), family Cactaceae. Prickly pears are also known as ''tuna'' (fruit), ''sabra'', ''nopal'' (paddle, plural ''nopales'') from t ...
'' Small *''
Opuntia azurea ''Opuntia azurea'', the purple prickly pear or coyotillo, is a long-spined prickly pear that is native to a variety of habitats, including desert, mountain grasslands, and slopes in the Big Bend region of Texas and in the states of Coahuila, Chih ...
'' Rose *''
Opuntia basilaris ''Opuntia basilaris'', the beavertail cactus or beavertail pricklypear, is a cactus species found in the southwest United States. It occurs mostly in the Mojave, Anza-Borrego, and Colorado Deserts, as well as in the Colorado Plateau and northwe ...
'' Engelm. & J.M.Bigelow – beavertail cactus; diploid (2n=22) *''
Opuntia bentonii ''Opuntia bentonii'' was proposed by some botanists to be a synonym of ''Opuntia stricta ''Opuntia stricta'' is a species of large cactus that is endemic to the subtropical and tropical coastal areas of the Americas, especially around the Cari ...
'', synonym of ''
Opuntia stricta ''Opuntia stricta'' is a species of large cactus that is endemic to the subtropical and tropical coastal areas of the Americas, especially around the Caribbean. Common names include erect prickly pear and nopal estricto (Spanish). The first desc ...
'' *'' Opuntia bonplandii'' (Kunth) F.A.C.Weber *'' Opuntia bravoana'' E.M.Baxter *''
Opuntia caboensis ''Opuntia'', commonly called prickly pear or pear cactus, is a genus of flowering plants in the cactus family Cactaceae. Prickly pears are also known as ''tuna'' (fruit), ''sabra'', ''nopal'' (paddle, plural ''nopales'') from the Nahuatl word f ...
'' F.Mercado & León de la Luz *'' Opuntia cacanapa'', synonym of ''
Opuntia engelmannii ''Opuntia engelmannii'' is a prickly pear common across the south-central and Southwestern United States and northern Mexico. It goes by a variety of common names, including desert prickly pear, discus prickly pear, Engelmann's prickly pear in ...
'' var. ''cacanapa'' *'' Opuntia camanchica'' Engelm. & J.M.Bigelow *'' Opuntia caracassana'' Salm-Dyck * ''Opuntia'' × ''carstenii'' R.Puente & C.Hamann *''
Opuntia cespitosa ''Opuntia cespitosa'', commonly called the eastern prickly pear, is a species of cactus native to North America. It is most common west of the Appalachian Mountains and east of the Mississippi River, where it is found in the Midwest, Upper South ...
'' Raf. *''
Opuntia chaffeyi ''Opuntia chaffeyi'' is a species of plant in the family Cactaceae. It is endemic to Zacatecas state in Mexico. Its natural habitat is hot deserts. It is a Critically endangered species, threatened by habitat loss Habitat destruction (al ...
'' Britton & Rose * ''Opuntia'' × ''charlestonensis'' Clokey *''
Opuntia chiangiana ''Opuntia'', commonly called prickly pear or pear cactus, is a genus of flowering plants in the cactus family Cactaceae. Prickly pears are also known as ''tuna'' (fruit), ''sabra'', ''nopal'' (paddle, plural ''nopales'') from the Nahuatl word f ...
'' Scheinvar & Manzanero *'' Opuntia chisosensis'' (M.S.Anthony) D.J.Ferguson *''
Opuntia chlorotica ''Opuntia chlorotica'' is a species of plant in the family Cactaceae. It is a species of prickly pear native to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. Its common names include pancake prickly pear, flapjack prickly pear and dollarjo ...
'' Engelm. & J.M.Bigelow – pancake prickly pear; native to southwest USA and the Sonoran and
Mojave desert The Mojave Desert ( ; mov, Hayikwiir Mat'aar; es, Desierto de Mojave) is a desert in the rain shadow of the Sierra Nevada mountains in the Southwestern United States. It is named for the indigenous Mojave people. It is located primarily in ...
s; diploid (2n=22) *''
Opuntia clarkiorum ''Opuntia'', commonly called prickly pear or pear cactus, is a genus of flowering plants in the cactus family Cactaceae. Prickly pears are also known as ''tuna'' (fruit), ''sabra'', ''nopal'' (paddle, plural ''nopales'') from the Nahuatl word f ...
'' Rebman *''
Opuntia cochenillifera ''Opuntia cochenillifera'' is a species of cactus in the subfamily Opuntioideae Opuntioideae is a subfamily of the cactus family, Cactaceae. It contains 15 genera divided into five tribes. The subfamily encompasses roughly 220–250 species, a ...
'' (L.) Mill. * ''Opuntia'' × ''cochinera'' Griffiths * ''Opuntia'' × ''coloradensis'' D.J.Barnett & Donnie Barnett * ''Opuntia'' × ''columbiana'' Griffiths *'' Opuntia crassa'' Haw. *'' Opuntia crystalenia'' Griffiths *'' Opuntia cubensis'' Britton & Rose *'' Opuntia curassavica'' (L.) Mill. * ''Opuntia'' × ''curvispina'' Griffiths *''
Opuntia deamii ''Opuntia'', commonly called prickly pear or pear cactus, is a genus of flowering plants in the cactus family Cactaceae. Prickly pears are also known as ''tuna'' (fruit), ''sabra'', ''nopal'' (paddle, plural ''nopales'') from the Nahuatl word ...
'' Rose * ''Opuntia'' × ''debreczyi'' Szutorisz *'' Opuntia decumbens'' Salm-Dyck *''
Opuntia dejecta ''Opuntia dejecta'' is a species of plant in the cactus family. They are listed in cites appendix ii. Flowers are visited by the broad-billed hummingbird The broad-billed hummingbird (''Cynanthus latirostris'') is a small-sized hummingbird tha ...
'' Salm-Dyck *''
Opuntia delafuentiana ''Opuntia'', commonly called prickly pear or pear cactus, is a genus of flowering plants in the cactus family Cactaceae. Prickly pears are also known as ''tuna'' (fruit), ''sabra'', ''nopal'' (paddle, plural ''nopales'') from the Nahuatl word f ...
'' Martínez-Gonz., Luna-Vega, Gallegos & García-Sand. * ''Opuntia'' × ''demissa'' Griffiths *''
Opuntia depressa ''Opuntia'', commonly called prickly pear or pear cactus, is a genus of flowering plants in the cactus family Cactaceae. Prickly pears are also known as ''tuna'' (fruit), ''sabra'', ''nopal'' (paddle, plural ''nopales'') from the Nahuatl word f ...
'' Rose *''
Opuntia dillenii ''Opuntia dillenii'' is a species of Opuntia, prickly pear native to the tropical and subtropical Americas. It is naturalized in many other parts of the world. It differs from ''Opuntia stricta, O. stricta'' by having more spines per areole (usua ...
'' (Ker Gawl.) Haw. *'' Opuntia diploursina'', synonym of ''
Opuntia polyacantha ''Opuntia polyacantha'' is a common species of cactus known by the common names plains pricklypear,Johnson, K. A. 2000''Opuntia polyacantha''.In: Fire Effects Information System, nline U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mo ...
'' var. ''erinacea'' – found around Grand Canyon and
Lake Mead Lake Mead is a reservoir formed by the Hoover Dam on the Colorado River in the Southwestern United States. It is located in the states of Nevada and Arizona, east of Las Vegas. It is the largest reservoir in the US in terms of water capacity. ...
National Recreation Area; diploid (2n=22); resembles ''O. trichophora'' *'' Opuntia discolor'' Britton & Rose *''
Opuntia drummondii ''Opuntia'', commonly called prickly pear or pear cactus, is a genus of flowering plants in the cactus family Cactaceae. Prickly pears are also known as ''tuna'' (fruit), ''sabra'', ''nopal'' (paddle, plural ''nopales'') from the Nahuatl word ...
'' Graham *''
Opuntia dulcis ''Opuntia dulcis'' has been described as a variety of, and is confused with, ''O. phaeacantha''. However, ''O. dulcis'' is a larger plant with ascending branches, to 2 ft (exceptionally 4 ft). While it is a larger plant, immature specim ...
'' Engelm. *''Opuntia echinocarpa'' - see ''
Cylindropuntia echinocarpa ''Cylindropuntia echinocarpa'' is a species of cactus known by the common names silver cholla, golden cholla, and Wiggins' cholla. It was formerly named ''Opuntia echinocarpa''.
'' *''
Opuntia eichlamii ''Opuntia'', commonly called prickly pear or pear cactus, is a genus of flowering plants in the cactus family Cactaceae. Prickly pears are also known as ''tuna'' (fruit), ''sabra'', ''nopal'' (paddle, plural ''nopales'') from the Nahuatl word f ...
'' Rose *''
Opuntia elata ''Opuntia elata'' is a species of cactus found in Bolivia, Paraguay, southern Brazil, northern Argentina, and Uruguay. , Plants of the World Online accepted three varieties: *''Opuntia elata'' var. ''delaetiana'' F.A.C.Weber *''Opuntia elata'' ...
'' Link & Otto ex Salm-Dyck *''
Opuntia elatior ''Opuntia'', commonly called prickly pear or pear cactus, is a genus of flowering plants in the cactus family Cactaceae. Prickly pears are also known as ''tuna'' (fruit), ''sabra'', ''nopal'' (paddle, plural ''nopales'') from the Nahuatl word ...
'' Mill. *'' Opuntia elizondoana'' E.Sánchez & Villaseñor *''
Opuntia engelmannii ''Opuntia engelmannii'' is a prickly pear common across the south-central and Southwestern United States and northern Mexico. It goes by a variety of common names, including desert prickly pear, discus prickly pear, Engelmann's prickly pear in ...
'' Salm-Dyck ex Engelm. – Engelmann's prickly pear, cow's-tongue prickly pear, desert prickly pear, discus prickly pear, Texas prickly pear, calico cactus; hexaploid (2n=66) *'' Opuntia escuintlensis'' (Matuda) Lodé *'' Opuntia excelsa'' Sánchez-Mej. *'' Opuntia feroacantha'' Britton & Rose *''
Opuntia ficus-indica ''Opuntia ficus-indica'', the Indian fig opuntia, fig opuntia, or prickly pear, is a species of cactus that has long been a domesticated crop plant grown in agricultural economies throughout arid and semiarid parts of the world. ''O. ficus-indica ...
'' (L.) Mill. – Indian fig opuntia, cultivated *''
Opuntia fragilis ''Opuntia fragilis'', known by the common names brittle pricklypear and little prickly pear, is a prickly pear cactus native to much of western North America as well as some midwestern states such as Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin and Michigan. It al ...
'' (Nutt.) Haw. – little prickly pear, brittle cactus, found in the Great Plains, parts of the Midwest and in several Canadian provinces, up to 56°N. *''
Opuntia fuliginosa ''Opuntia fuliginosa'' is a species of prickly pear cactus found in the Sonoran Desert The Sonoran Desert ( es, Desierto de Sonora) is a desert in North America and ecoregion that covers the northwestern Mexican states of Sonora, Baja Califor ...
'' Griffiths *''
Opuntia galapageia ''Opuntia galapageia'' is a species of cactus. It is endemic to the Galápagos Islands, part of Ecuador. Forms occurring on different islands have been treated as separate species and subtaxa of these species. ''Opuntia echios'', ''Opuntia heller ...
'' Hensl. – Galápagos prickly pear,
Galápagos Islands The Galápagos Islands (Spanish: , , ) are an archipelago of volcanic islands. They are distributed on each side of the equator in the Pacific Ocean, surrounding the centre of the Western Hemisphere, and are part of the Republic of Ecuador ...
*'' Opuntia gallegiana'' Scheinvar & Olalde *''
Opuntia gosseliniana ''Opuntia gosseliniana'', commonly known as the violet pricklypear, is a species of cactus that is native to Pima County, Arizona in the United States and Baja California, Chihuahua, and Sonora Sonora (), officially Estado Libre y Soberano de ...
'' F.A.C.Weber – violet prickly pear *''
Opuntia guatemalensis ''Opuntia'', commonly called prickly pear or pear cactus, is a genus of flowering plants in the cactus family Cactaceae. Prickly pears are also known as ''tuna'' (fruit), ''sabra'', ''nopal'' (paddle, plural ''nopales'') from the Nahuatl word f ...
'' Britton & Rose *'' Opuntia guilanchii'' Griffiths *''
Opuntia hitchcockii ''Opuntia'', commonly called prickly pear or pear cactus, is a genus of flowering plants in the cactus family (biology), family Cactaceae. Prickly pears are also known as ''tuna'' (fruit), ''sabra'', ''nopal'' (paddle, plural ''nopales'') from t ...
'' J.G.Ortega *'' Opuntia hondurensis'' Standl. *'' Opuntia howeyi'' J.A.Purpus *'' Opuntia huajuapensis'' Bravo *''
Opuntia humifusa ''Opuntia humifusa'', commonly known as the devil's-tongue, Eastern prickly pear or Indian fig, is a cactus of the genus ''Opuntia'' present in parts of the eastern United States. Description As is the case in other ''Opuntia'' species, the gr ...
'' (Raf.) Raf. – eastern prickly pear (sometimes included in ''O. compressa''); tetraploid (2n=44); range includes humid regions of Eastern United States and northerly regions into Canada *''
Opuntia hyptiacantha ''Opuntia hyptiacantha'' is a species of plant that belongs to the family Cactaceae. They can be found in Mexico within Durango, Aguascalientes, Zacatecas, San Luis Potosí, Jalisco, Guanajuato, Querétaro, and the State of Mexico The State o ...
'' F.A.C.Weber *'' Opuntia inaequilateralis'' A.Berger *''
Opuntia inaperta ''Opuntia'', commonly called prickly pear or pear cactus, is a genus of flowering plants in the cactus family Cactaceae. Prickly pears are also known as ''tuna'' (fruit), ''sabra'', ''nopal'' (paddle, plural ''nopales'') from the Nahuatl word f ...
'' (Schott ex Griffiths) D.R.Hunt *'' Opuntia invicta'', synonym of ''
Grusonia invicta ''Grusonia'' is a genus of opuntioid cacti (family Cactaceae), originating from the North American Deserts in Southwest United States and northern Mexico, including Baja California. Authors differ on precise boundaries of the genus, which has be ...
'' *''
Opuntia jaliscana ''Opuntia'', commonly called prickly pear or pear cactus, is a genus of flowering plants in the cactus family Cactaceae. Prickly pears are also known as ''tuna'' (fruit), ''sabra'', ''nopal'' (paddle, plural ''nopales'') from the Nahuatl word f ...
'' Bravo *'' Opuntia lagunae'' E.M.Baxter *'' Opuntia lasiacantha'' Pfeiff. *''
Opuntia leucotricha ''Opuntia leucotricha'' is a species of cactus with the common names: arborescent pricklypear, Aaron's beard cactus, and semaphore cactus; and (in Spanish) ''duraznillo blanco'' and ''nopal blanco''. Distribution It is a species of '' Opuntia'' ...
'' DC. – arborescent prickly pear, Aaron's beard cactus, semaphore cactus, ''Duraznillo blanco'', ''nopal blanco'' *''
Opuntia lindheimeri ''Opuntia lindheimeri'' or Texas prickly pear is a species of cactus native to North America. It is native to Mexico and the United States, where its populations are primarily in Texas. Widespread taxonomic confusion has prevented a clear unders ...
'' – cowtongue prickly pear *''
Opuntia littoralis ''Opuntia littoralis'' is a species of prickly pear cactus known by the common name coastal pricklypear. It is sometimes called the sprawling prickly pear due to its short stems and habit of growing close to the ground. ''"Littoral"'' means "per ...
'' (Engelm.) Cockerell – coastal prickly pear, sprawling prickly pear *''
Opuntia lutea ''Opuntia'', commonly called prickly pear or pear cactus, is a genus of flowering plants in the cactus family (biology), family Cactaceae. Prickly pears are also known as ''tuna'' (fruit), ''sabra'', ''nopal'' (paddle, plural ''nopales'') from t ...
'' (Rose) D.R.Hunt *'' Opuntia mackensenii'' Rose *''
Opuntia macrocentra ''Opuntia macrocentra'', the long-spined purplish prickly pear or purple pricklypear, is a cactus found in the lower Southwestern United States and Northwestern Mexico. A member of the prickly pear genus, this species of ''Opuntia'' is most n ...
'' Engelm. – black-spined prickly pear, purple prickly pear, found in southwest USA and northern Mexico *''
Opuntia macrorhiza ''Opuntia macrorhiza'' is a common and widespread species of cactus with the common names plains pricklypear or prairie pricklypear or western pricklypear. It is found throughout the Great Plains of the United States, from Texas to Minnesota, and ...
'' Engelm. – Plains prickly pear, found throughout the Great Plains except for the northernmost areas (not found in
North Dakota North Dakota () is a U.S. state in the Upper Midwest, named after the Native Americans in the United States, indigenous Dakota people, Dakota Sioux. North Dakota is bordered by the Canadian provinces of Saskatchewan and Manitoba to the north a ...
), and extending sporadically eastward as far as
Kentucky Kentucky ( , ), officially the Commonwealth of Kentucky, is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States and one of the states of the Upper South. It borders Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio to the north; West Virginia and Virginia to ...
; tetraploid (2n=44) *'' Opuntia mantaroensis'' Guiggi *''
Opuntia matudae ''Opuntia matudae'', or xoconostle, is a cactus native to Mexico. It is sometimes treated as a synonym of ''Opuntia hyptiacantha''. In 2019, a genetic study supported keeping the taxa distinct. Uses ''Opuntia matudae'' is the most commercially ...
'' Scheinvar – ''xoconostle'' (syn. ''O. joconostle'') *''
Opuntia maxima ''Opuntia'', commonly called prickly pear or pear cactus, is a genus of flowering plants in the cactus family Cactaceae. Prickly pears are also known as ''tuna'' (fruit), ''sabra'', ''nopal'' (paddle, plural ''nopales'') from the Nahuatl word f ...
'' Mill. *''
Opuntia megapotamica ''Opuntia'', commonly called prickly pear or pear cactus, is a genus of flowering plants in the cactus family Cactaceae. Prickly pears are also known as ''tuna'' (fruit), ''sabra'', ''nopal'' (paddle, plural ''nopales'') from the Nahuatl word f ...
'' Arechav. *''
Opuntia megarrhiza ''Opuntia megarrhiza'' Rose is a species of plant in the family Cactaceae. It is Endemism, endemic to the state of San Luís Potosí in northeastern Mexico. It is known only from 5 populations, around the summits of La Trinidad and Álvarez Moun ...
'' Rose *''
Opuntia mesacantha ''Opuntia'', commonly called prickly pear or pear cactus, is a genus of flowering plants in the cactus family Cactaceae. Prickly pears are also known as ''tuna'' (fruit), ''sabra'', ''nopal'' (paddle, plural ''nopales'') from the Nahuatl word f ...
'' Raf. *''
Opuntia microdasys ''Opuntia microdasys'' (angel's-wings, bunny ears cactus, bunny cactus or polka-dot cactus) is a species of flowering plant in the cactus family Cactaceae, native and endemic to central and northern Mexico. Description ''Opuntia microdasys'' fo ...
'' (Lehm.) Pfeiff. – bunny ears cactus, polka-dot cactus *''
Opuntia militaris ''Opuntia'', commonly called prickly pear or pear cactus, is a genus of flowering plants in the cactus family Cactaceae. Prickly pears are also known as ''tuna'' (fruit), ''sabra'', ''nopal'' (paddle, plural ''nopales'') from the Nahuatl word f ...
'' Britton & Rose *''
Opuntia monacanthos ''Opuntia monacantha'', commonly known as drooping prickly pear, cochineal prickly pear, or Barbary fig, is a species of plant in the family Cactaceae native to South America. Taxonomy The species was first formally described in 1812 by botani ...
'' (Willd.) Haw. (also spelt '' O. monacantha'') – common prickly pear *''
Opuntia nemoralis ''Opuntia nemoralis'' is a species of cactus (Cactaceae) native to the United States. It is found in the South-Central region, in the states of Arkansas Arkansas ( ) is a landlocked state in the South Central United States. It is bord ...
'' Griffiths * ''Opuntia'' × ''occidentalis'' Engelm. & J.M.Bigelow *''
Opuntia ochrocentra ''Opuntia'', commonly called prickly pear or pear cactus, is a genus of flowering plants in the cactus family Cactaceae. Prickly pears are also known as ''tuna'' (fruit), ''sabra'', ''nopal'' (paddle, plural ''nopales'') from the Nahuatl word f ...
'' Small ex Britton & Rose *''
Opuntia orbiculata ''Opuntia'', commonly called prickly pear or pear cactus, is a genus of flowering plants in the cactus family Cactaceae. Prickly pears are also known as ''tuna'' (fruit), ''sabra'', ''nopal'' (paddle, plural ''nopales'') from the Nahuatl word f ...
'' Salm-Dyck ex Pfeiff. *''
Opuntia oricola ''Opuntia oricola'' is a species of prickly pear cactus known by the common name chaparral prickly pear. It is native to southern California and Baja California, where it grows in coastal sage scrub and chaparral habitat In ecology, the ...
'' Philbrick *''
Opuntia pachyrrhiza ''Opuntia pachyrrhiza'' is a species of plant in the family Cactaceae. It is endemic to Mexico. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical dry lowland grassland. It is threatened by habitat loss Habitat destruction (also termed habitat ...
'' H.M.Hern., Gómez-Hin. & Bárcenas *''
Opuntia pailana ''Opuntia pailana'' is a species of the genus ''Opuntia'' in the family Cactaceae. The name ''pailana'' comes from the sierra de la Paila in the state of Coahuila Mexico where it was discovered. Description The first description was published by ...
'', synonym of '' O. leucotricha'' *''
Opuntia parviclada ''Opuntia'', commonly called prickly pear or pear cactus, is a genus of flowering plants in the cactus family (biology), family Cactaceae. Prickly pears are also known as ''tuna'' (fruit), ''sabra'', ''nopal'' (paddle, plural ''nopales'') from t ...
'' S.Arias & Gama *''
Opuntia peckii ''Opuntia'', commonly called prickly pear or pear cactus, is a genus of flowering plants in the cactus family Cactaceae. Prickly pears are also known as ''tuna'' (fruit), ''sabra'', ''nopal'' (paddle, plural ''nopales'') from the Nahuatl word ...
'' J.A.Purpus *'' Opuntia perotensis'' Scheinvar, Olalde & Gallegos *''
Opuntia phaeacantha ''Opuntia phaeacantha'' is a species of prickly pear cactus known by the common names tulip prickly pear, Mojave prickly pear, and desert prickly pear found across the southwestern United States, lower Great Plains, and northern Mexico. The plan ...
'' Engelm. – tulip prickly pear, includes plateau prickly pear, brown-spined prickly pear, Mojave prickly pear, Kingman prickly pear; hexaploid (2n=66) *''
Opuntia picardoi ''Opuntia picardoi'' is a species of cactus A cactus (, or less commonly, cactus) is a member of the plant family Cactaceae, a family comprising about 127 genera with some 1750 known species of the order Caryophyllales. The word ''cactus' ...
'', synonym of ''
Airampoa erectoclada ''Airampoa erectoclada'' is a species of '' Airampoa'' found in Argentina Argentina (), officially the Argentine Republic ( es, link=no, República Argentina), is a country in the southern half of South America. Argentina covers an area o ...
'' *''
Opuntia pilifera ''Opuntia pilifera'' is a species of plants in the family Cactaceae (cacti). They are listed in CITES Appendix II CITES (shorter name for the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, also known as the ...
'' F.A.C.Weber *'' Opuntia pinkavae'' B.D.Parfitt – Pinkava prickly pear; octoploid (2n=88), named in honor of Donald John Pinkava *'' Opuntia pittieri'' Britton & Rose *''
Opuntia polyacantha ''Opuntia polyacantha'' is a common species of cactus known by the common names plains pricklypear,Johnson, K. A. 2000''Opuntia polyacantha''.In: Fire Effects Information System, nline U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mo ...
'' Haw. – Plains prickly pear, Starvation Prickly pear, Panhandle prickly pear, found in the Great Plains,
Great Basin The Great Basin is the largest area of contiguous endorheic basin, endorheic watersheds, those with no outlets, in North America. It spans nearly all of Nevada, much of Utah, and portions of California, Idaho, Oregon, Wyoming, and Baja California ...
, Mojave Desert,
Colorado Plateau The Colorado Plateau, also known as the Colorado Plateau Province, is a physiographic and desert region of the Intermontane Plateaus, roughly centered on the Four Corners region of the southwestern United States. This province covers an area of ...
, and the
Rocky Mountains The Rocky Mountains, also known as the Rockies, are a major mountain range and the largest mountain system in North America. The Rocky Mountains stretch in straight-line distance from the northernmost part of western Canada, to New Mexico in ...
, syn. ''Opuntia rhodantha'' K.Schum.; tetraploid (2n=44) *'' Opuntia pottsii'' Salm-Dyck *'' Opuntia preciadoae'' Scheinvar, Olalde, Gallegos & J.Morales S. *'' Opuntia puberula'' Pfeiff. *'' Opuntia pubescens'' H.L.Wendl. ex Pfeiff. *'' Opuntia pycnantha'' Engelm. *'' Opuntia quimilo'' K.Schum. *''
Opuntia quitensis ''Opuntia quitensis'' is a species of columnar cactus found in Peru and Ecuador. Description The plant extends with small stems, forming a large shrub with a size of 0.4 to 3 meters high. The pads are flattened, elongated and almost circular, ba ...
'' F.A.C.Weber – Red Buttons opuntia (syn. ''Opuntia macbridei'', ''Opuntia johnsonii'', ''Platyopuntia quitensis)'' *''
Opuntia rastrera ''Opuntia rastrera'' is a prickly pear which grows in the Mexican state of San Luis Potosí. It is known in Spanish as cuija, although that name can also refer to other cactuses such as '' Brasiliopuntia''. Description ''Opuntia rastrera'' can ...
'' F.A.C.Weber *''
Opuntia repens ''Opuntia repens'', the roving pricklypear, is a species of cactus that is native to dry forests Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. It is a small shrub, growing up to 50 cm (20 in) tall, with yellow flowers and red fruit. Like its co ...
'' Bello *'' Opuntia retrorsa'' Speg. *'' Opuntia ritteri'' A.Berger *''
Opuntia robinsonii ''Opuntia'', commonly called prickly pear or pear cactus, is a genus of flowering plants in the cactus family Cactaceae. Prickly pears are also known as ''tuna'' (fruit), ''sabra'', ''nopal'' (paddle, plural ''nopales'') from the Nahuatl word f ...
'' J.G.Ortega *''
Opuntia robusta ''Opuntia robusta'', the wheel cactus, nopal tapon, or camuesa, is a species of cactus in the family Cactaceae. It is native and endemic to central and northern Mexico to within of the Arizona and New Mexico borders where it grow from on rocky ...
'' H.L.Wendl. ex Pfeiff. * ''Opuntia'' × ''rooneyi'' M.P.Griff. *''
Opuntia rufida ''Opuntia rufida'' is a species of prickly pear cactus native to southwestern Texas and northern Mexico, where it grows on rocky slopes. The species makes up for its total lack of spines with a profusion of red-brown glochids. The common name ...
'' Engelm. *'' Opuntia rzedowskii'' Scheinvar *'' Opuntia sanguinea'' Proctor *'' Opuntia scheeri'' F.A.C.Weber *''
Opuntia schumannii ''Opuntia'', commonly called prickly pear or pear cactus, is a genus of flowering plants in the cactus family Cactaceae. Prickly pears are also known as ''tuna'' (fruit), ''sabra'', ''nopal'' (paddle, plural ''nopales'') from the Nahuatl word ...
'' F.A.C.Weber ex A.Berger *'' Opuntia setispina'' Engelm., synonym of '' Opuntia pottsii'' *'' Opuntia setocarpa'' Arreola-Nava, Guzm.-Hern. & Cuevas *'' Opuntia sierralagunensis'' León de la Luz & F.Mercado *'' Opuntia soederstromiana'' Britton & Rose *'' Opuntia spinosibacca'' M.S.Anthony *'' Opuntia spinulifera'' Salm-Dyck *''
Opuntia stenarthra ''Opuntia'', commonly called prickly pear or pear cactus, is a genus of flowering plants in the cactus family Cactaceae. Prickly pears are also known as ''tuna'' (fruit), ''sabra'', ''nopal'' (paddle, plural ''nopales'') from the Nahuatl word f ...
'' K.Schum. *'' Opuntia stenopetala'' Engelm. *''
Opuntia streptacantha ''Opuntia'', commonly called prickly pear or pear cactus, is a genus of flowering plants in the cactus family Cactaceae. Prickly pears are also known as ''tuna'' (fruit), ''sabra'', ''nopal'' (paddle, plural ''nopales'') from the Nahuatl word f ...
'' Lem. *''
Opuntia stricta ''Opuntia stricta'' is a species of large cactus that is endemic to the subtropical and tropical coastal areas of the Americas, especially around the Caribbean. Common names include erect prickly pear and nopal estricto (Spanish). The first desc ...
'' (Haw.) Haw. – erect prickly pear, spineless prickly pear *''
Opuntia strigil ''Opuntia'', commonly called prickly pear or pear cactus, is a genus of flowering plants in the cactus family Cactaceae. Prickly pears are also known as ''tuna'' (fruit), ''sabra'', ''nopal'' (paddle, plural ''nopales'') from the Nahuatl word f ...
'' Engelm. *'' Opuntia sulphurea'' G.Don ex Salm-Dyck *''
Opuntia tapona ''Opuntia'', commonly called prickly pear or pear cactus, is a genus of flowering plants in the cactus family Cactaceae. Prickly pears are also known as ''tuna'' (fruit), ''sabra'', ''nopal'' (paddle, plural ''nopales'') from the Nahuatl word f ...
'' Engelm. ex J.M.Coult. *'' Opuntia tehuacana'' S.Arias & U.Guzmán *'' Opuntia tehuantepecana'' (Bravo) Bravo *'' Opuntia tezontepecana'' Gallegos & Scheinvar *''
Opuntia tomentosa ''Opuntia tomentosa'', commonly called woollyjoint pricklypear or velvety tree pear, is a species of '' Opuntia'' found in Mexico References External links * * tomentosa Flora of Mexico {{Cactus-stub ...
'' Salm-Dyck – woollyjoint prickly pear *''
Opuntia tortispina ''Opuntia tortispina'' is a species of flowering plant in the family Cactaceae A cactus (, or less commonly, cactus) is a member of the plant family Cactaceae, a family comprising about 127 genera with some 1750 known species of the orde ...
'' Engelm. & J.M.Bigelow *'' Opuntia triacanthos'' (Willd.) Sweet (also spelt ''
Opuntia triacantha ''Opuntia triacantha'' is a species of cactus known by the common names Spanish lady, Keys Joe-jumper, Big Pine Key prickly-pear, and jumping prickly apple. It is native to the Caribbean, from Desecheo Island, Puerto Rico, to the Lesser Antilles. ...
'') *'' Opuntia trichophora'' diploid (2n=22) *'' Opuntia tuna'' (L.) Mill. *'' Opuntia tunoidea'' Gibbes * ''Opuntia'' × ''vaseyi'' (J.M.Coult.) Britton & Rose *'' Opuntia velutina'' F.A.C.Weber *''
Opuntia wilcoxii ''Opuntia'', commonly called prickly pear or pear cactus, is a genus of flowering plants in the cactus family Cactaceae. Prickly pears are also known as ''tuna'' (fruit), ''sabra'', ''nopal'' (paddle, plural ''nopales'') from the Nahuatl word f ...
'' Britton & Rose *''
Opuntia zacuapanensis ''Opuntia'', commonly called prickly pear or pear cactus, is a genus of flowering plants in the cactus family Cactaceae. Prickly pears are also known as ''tuna'' (fruit), ''sabra'', ''nopal'' (paddle, plural ''nopales'') from the Nahuatl word f ...
'' A.Berger *''
Opuntia zamudioi ''Opuntia'', commonly called prickly pear or pear cactus, is a genus of flowering plants in the cactus family Cactaceae. Prickly pears are also known as ''tuna'' (fruit), ''sabra'', ''nopal'' (paddle, plural ''nopales'') from the Nahuatl word f ...
'' Scheinvar


Formerly in ''Opuntia''

* '' Austrocylindropuntia'' * ''
Brasiliopuntia ''Brasiliopuntia'' is a genus in the cactus family, Cactaceae. It contains only one species, ''Brasiliopuntia brasiliensis''. It is found in Brazil, Paraguay, eastern Bolivia, Peru and northern Argentina, and has become naturalized in Florida a ...
'' * ''
Corynopuntia ''Grusonia'' is a genus of opuntioid cacti (family Cactaceae), originating from the North American Deserts in Southwest United States and northern Mexico, including Baja California. Authors differ on precise boundaries of the genus, which has be ...
'' * ''
Cylindropuntia ''Cylindropuntia'' is a genus of cacti (family Cactaceae), containing species commonly known as chollas, native to northern Mexico and the Southwestern United States. They are known for their barbed spines that tenaciously attach to skin, fur, a ...
'' * '' Disocactus phyllanthoides'' (as ''O. speciosa'') * '' Micropuntia'' * '' Miqueliopuntia''


Chollas

Chollas, now recognized to belong to the distinct genus ''Cylindropuntia'', are distinguished by having cylindrical, rather than flattened, stem segments with large barbed spines. The stem joints of several species, notably the jumping cholla (''C. fulgida''), are very brittle on young stems, readily breaking off when the barbed spines stick to clothing or animal fur as a method of
vegetative reproduction Vegetative reproduction (also known as vegetative propagation, vegetative multiplication or cloning) is any form of asexual reproduction occurring in plants in which a new plant grows from a fragment or cutting of the parent plant or spec ...
. The barbed spines can remain embedded in the skin, causing discomfort and sometimes injury.


Breeding

One of the ancient homes of the cactus pear, Mexico, ran a
breeding program A breeding program is the planned breeding of a group of animals or plants, usually involving at least several individuals and extending over several generations. There are a couple of breeding methods, such as artificial (which is man made) and ...
in the 1960s. This effort at the Antonio Narro Agrarian Autonomous University (Universidad Autónoma Agraria Antonio Narro, UAAAN) produced improvements in some traits including
cold-hardiness Psychrophiles or cryophiles (adj. ''psychrophilic'' or ''cryophilic'') are extremophile, extremophilic organisms that are capable of cell growth, growth and reproduction in low temperatures, ranging from to . They have an optimal growth temperat ...
.


Distribution and habitat

Like most true cactus species, prickly pears are native only to the
Americas The Americas, which are sometimes collectively called America, are a landmass comprising the totality of North and South America. The Americas make up most of the land in Earth's Western Hemisphere and comprise the New World. Along with th ...
. Through human actions, they have since been introduced to many other areas of the world. Prickly pear species are found in abundance in
Mexico Mexico (Spanish: México), officially the United Mexican States, is a country in the southern portion of North America. It is bordered to the north by the United States; to the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; to the southeast by Guatema ...
, especially in the central and western regions, and in the
Caribbean The Caribbean (, ) ( es, El Caribe; french: la Caraïbe; ht, Karayib; nl, De Caraïben) is a region of the Americas that consists of the Caribbean Sea, its islands (some surrounded by the Caribbean Sea and some bordering both the Caribbean Se ...
islands (
West Indies The West Indies is a subregion of North America, surrounded by the North Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea that includes 13 independent island countries and 18 dependencies and other territories in three major archipelagos: the Greater A ...
). In the
United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...
, prickly pears are native to many areas of the arid, semiarid, and drought-prone
Western Western may refer to: Places *Western, Nebraska, a village in the US *Western, New York, a town in the US *Western Creek, Tasmania, a locality in Australia *Western Junction, Tasmania, a locality in Australia *Western world, countries that id ...
and South Central United States, including the lower elevations of the
Rocky Mountains The Rocky Mountains, also known as the Rockies, are a major mountain range and the largest mountain system in North America. The Rocky Mountains stretch in straight-line distance from the northernmost part of western Canada, to New Mexico in ...
and southern
Great Plains The Great Plains (french: Grandes Plaines), sometimes simply "the Plains", is a broad expanse of flatland in North America. It is located west of the Mississippi River and east of the Rocky Mountains, much of it covered in prairie, steppe, an ...
, where species such as '' O. phaeacantha'' and '' O. polyacantha'' become dominant, and to the desert Southwest, where several types are endemic. Prickly pear cactus is also native to sandy coastal beach scrub environments of the
East Coast East Coast may refer to: Entertainment * East Coast hip hop, a subgenre of hip hop * East Coast (ASAP Ferg song), "East Coast" (ASAP Ferg song), 2017 * East Coast (Saves the Day song), "East Coast" (Saves the Day song), 2004 * East Coast FM, a ra ...
from
Florida Florida is a state located in the Southeastern region of the United States. Florida is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the northwest by Alabama, to the north by Georgia, to the east by the Bahamas and Atlantic Ocean, and to ...
to southern
Connecticut Connecticut () is the southernmost state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, New York to the west, and Long Island Sound to the south. Its cap ...
, where '' O. humifusa'', '' O. stricta'', and '' O. pusilla'', are found from the East Coast south into the
Caribbean The Caribbean (, ) ( es, El Caribe; french: la Caraïbe; ht, Karayib; nl, De Caraïben) is a region of the Americas that consists of the Caribbean Sea, its islands (some surrounded by the Caribbean Sea and some bordering both the Caribbean Se ...
and the
Bahamas The Bahamas (), officially the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, is an island country within the Lucayan Archipelago of the West Indies in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic. It takes up 97% of the Lucayan Archipelago's land area and is home to ...
. Additionally, the eastern prickly pear is native to the midwestern "sand prairies" nearby major river systems, such as the Mississippi, Illinois, and Ohio rivers. The plant also occurs naturally in hilly areas of southern
Illinois Illinois ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern United States. Its largest metropolitan areas include the Chicago metropolitan area, and the Metro East section, of Greater St. Louis. Other smaller metropolita ...
, and sandy or rocky areas of northern Illinois. ''Opuntia'' species are the most cold-tolerant of the lowland cacti, extending into western and southern
Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering over , making it the world's second-largest country by tot ...
; one
subspecies In biological classification, subspecies is a rank below species, used for populations that live in different areas and vary in size, shape, or other physical characteristics (morphology), but that can successfully interbreed. Not all species ...
, ''O. fragilis'' var. ''fragilis'', has been found growing along the
Beatton River The Beatton River is a tributary of the Peace River, flowing generally east, then south through north-eastern British Columbia, Canada. The river rises at Pink Mountain, about west of the Alaska Highway hamlet of the same name, and flows genera ...
in central
British Columbia British Columbia (commonly abbreviated as BC) is the westernmost province of Canada, situated between the Pacific Ocean and the Rocky Mountains. It has a diverse geography, with rugged landscapes that include rocky coastlines, sandy beaches, ...
, southwest of Cecil Lake at 56° 17’ N latitude and 120° 39’ W longitude. Others are seen in the Kleskun Hills Natural Area of north-west
Alberta Alberta ( ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada. It is part of Western Canada and is one of the three prairie provinces. Alberta is bordered by British Columbia to the west, Saskatchewan to the east, the Northwest Ter ...
at 55° 15’ 30’’ N latitude and 118° 30’ 36’’ W longitude. Prickly pears also produce a fruit, commonly eaten in
Mexico Mexico (Spanish: México), officially the United Mexican States, is a country in the southern portion of North America. It is bordered to the north by the United States; to the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; to the southeast by Guatema ...
and in the
Mediterranean region In biogeography, the Mediterranean Basin (; also known as the Mediterranean Region or sometimes Mediterranea) is the region of lands around the Mediterranean Sea that have mostly a Mediterranean climate, with mild to cool, rainy winters and wa ...
, known as ''tuna''; it also is used to make ''
aguas frescas ''Aguas frescas'' ( en, cool waters, lit=fresh waters, italic=yes) are light non-alcoholic beverages made from one or more fruits, cereals, flowers, or seeds blended with sugar and water. They are popular in Mexico and some other Latin Am ...
''. The fruit can be red, wine-red, green, or yellow-orange. In the
Galápagos Islands The Galápagos Islands (Spanish: , , ) are an archipelago of volcanic islands. They are distributed on each side of the equator in the Pacific Ocean, surrounding the centre of the Western Hemisphere, and are part of the Republic of Ecuador ...
, the Galápagos prickly pear, ''O. galapageia'', has previously been treated as a number of different species, but is now only divided into varieties and subvarieties. Most of these are confined to one or a few islands, so they have been described as "an excellent example of
adaptive radiation In evolutionary biology, adaptive radiation is a process in which organisms diversify rapidly from an ancestral species into a multitude of new forms, particularly when a change in the environment makes new resources available, alters biotic int ...
". On the whole, islands with tall, trunked varieties have giant tortoises, and islands lacking tortoises have low or prostrate forms of ''Opuntia''. Prickly pears are a prime source of food for the common giant tortoises in the Galápagos Islands, so they are important in the food web.
Charles Darwin Charles Robert Darwin ( ; 12 February 1809 – 19 April 1882) was an English naturalist, geologist, and biologist, widely known for his contributions to evolutionary biology. His proposition that all species of life have descended fr ...
was the first to note that these cacti have
thigmotactic A taxis (; ) is the movement of an organism in response to a stimulus such as light or the presence of food. Taxes are innate behavioural responses. A taxis differs from a tropism (turning response, often growth towards or away from a stimulu ...
anther The stamen (plural ''stamina'' or ''stamens'') is the pollen-producing reproductive organ of a flower. Collectively the stamens form the androecium., p. 10 Morphology and terminology A stamen typically consists of a stalk called the filam ...
s; when the anthers are touched, they curl over, depositing their
pollen Pollen is a powdery substance produced by seed plants. It consists of pollen grains (highly reduced microgametophytes), which produce male gametes (sperm cells). Pollen grains have a hard coat made of sporopollenin that protects the gametophyt ...
. This movement can be seen by gently poking the anthers of an open ''Opuntia''
flower A flower, sometimes known as a bloom or blossom, is the reproductive structure found in flowering plants (plants of the division Angiospermae). The biological function of a flower is to facilitate reproduction, usually by providing a mechani ...
. The same trait has evolved convergently in other species (e.g. ''
Lophophora ''Lophophora'' () is a genus of spineless, button-like cacti. Its area range covers southern through northeastern and north-central Mexico to Querétaro in central Mexico. The species are extremely slow growing, sometimes taking up to thirty ye ...
''). The first introduction of prickly pears into
Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...
is ascribed to Governor
Phillip Philip, also Phillip, is a male given name, derived from the Greek (''Philippos'', lit. "horse-loving" or "fond of horses"), from a compound of (''philos'', "dear", "loved", "loving") and (''hippos'', "horse"). Prominent Philips who popularize ...
and the earliest colonists in 1788. Brought from
Brazil Brazil ( pt, Brasil; ), officially the Federative Republic of Brazil (Portuguese: ), is the largest country in both South America and Latin America. At and with over 217 million people, Brazil is the world's fifth-largest country by area ...
to
Sydney Sydney ( ) is the capital city of the state of New South Wales, and the most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Sydney Harbour and extends about towards the Blue Mountain ...
, prickly pear grew in Sydney, New South Wales, where they were rediscovered in a farmer's garden in 1839. They appear to have spread from New South Wales and caused great ecological damage in the eastern states. They are also found in the Mediterranean region of
Northern Africa North Africa, or Northern Africa is a region encompassing the northern portion of the African continent. There is no singularly accepted scope for the region, and it is sometimes defined as stretching from the Atlantic shores of Mauritania in t ...
, especially in
Algeria ) , image_map = Algeria (centered orthographic projection).svg , map_caption = , image_map2 = , capital = Algiers , coordinates = , largest_city = capital , relig ...
,
Morocco Morocco (),, ) officially the Kingdom of Morocco, is the westernmost country in the Maghreb region of North Africa. It overlooks the Mediterranean Sea to the north and the Atlantic Ocean to the west, and has land borders with Algeria to ...
and
Tunisia ) , image_map = Tunisia location (orthographic projection).svg , map_caption = Location of Tunisia in northern Africa , image_map2 = , capital = Tunis , largest_city = capital , ...
, where they grow all over the countryside, and in parts of
Southern Europe Southern Europe is the southern regions of Europe, region of Europe. It is also known as Mediterranean Europe, as its geography is essentially marked by the Mediterranean Sea. Definitions of Southern Europe include some or all of these countrie ...
, especially
Spain , image_flag = Bandera de España.svg , image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg , national_motto = ''Plus ultra'' (Latin)(English: "Further Beyond") , national_anthem = (English: "Royal March") , i ...
, where they grow in the east, south-east, and south of the country, and also in
Malta Malta ( , , ), officially the Republic of Malta ( mt, Repubblika ta' Malta ), is an island country in the Mediterranean Sea. It consists of an archipelago, between Italy and Libya, and is often considered a part of Southern Europe. It lies ...
, where they grow all over the islands. They can be found in enormous numbers in parts of
South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the north by the neighbouring countri ...
, where they were introduced from South America. Prickly pears are considered an
invasive species An invasive species otherwise known as an alien is an introduced organism that becomes overpopulated and harms its new environment. Although most introduced species are neutral or beneficial with respect to other species, invasive species ad ...
in
Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...
,
Ethiopia Ethiopia, , om, Itiyoophiyaa, so, Itoobiya, ti, ኢትዮጵያ, Ítiyop'iya, aa, Itiyoppiya officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a landlocked country in the Horn of Africa. It shares borders with Eritrea to the ...
,
South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the north by the neighbouring countri ...
, and
Hawaii Hawaii ( ; haw, Hawaii or ) is a state in the Western United States, located in the Pacific Ocean about from the U.S. mainland. It is the only U.S. state outside North America, the only state that is an archipelago, and the only stat ...
, among other locations. Prickly pears (mostly ''O. stricta'') were originally imported into Europe during the 1500s and Australia in the 18th century for gardens, and were later used as a natural agricultural fencingPatterson, Ewen K. 1936. The World's First Insect Memorial. "The Review of the River Plate", December pp. 16–17 and in an attempt to establish a
cochineal The cochineal ( , ; ''Dactylopius coccus'') is a scale insect in the suborder Sternorrhyncha, from which the natural dye carmine is derived. A primarily sessility (motility), sessile parasitism, parasite native to tropical and subtropical Sout ...
dye industry. In Australia, they quickly became a widespread
invasive weed An invasive species otherwise known as an alien is an introduced organism that becomes overpopulated and harms its new environment. Although most introduced species are neutral or beneficial with respect to other species, invasive species ad ...
, eventually converting of farming land into an impenetrable green jungle of prickly pear, in places high. Scores of farmers were driven off their land by what they called the "green hell"; their abandoned homes were crushed under the cactus growth, which advanced at a rate of per year. In 1919, the
Australian federal government The Australian Government, also known as the Commonwealth Government, is the national government of Australia, a federal parliamentary constitutional monarchy. Like other Westminster-style systems of government, the Australian Government i ...
established the Commonwealth Prickly Pear Board to coordinate efforts with state governments to eradicate the weed. Early attempts at mechanical removal and poisonous chemicals failed, so in a last resort, biological control was attempted. The
moth Moths are a paraphyletic group of insects that includes all members of the order Lepidoptera that are not butterflies, with moths making up the vast majority of the order. There are thought to be approximately 160,000 species of moth, many of w ...
''
Cactoblastis cactorum ''Cactoblastis cactorum'', the cactus moth, South American cactus moth or nopal moth, is native to Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay and southern Brazil. It is one of five species in the genus '' Cactoblastis'' that inhabit South America, where many pa ...
'', from
South America South America is a continent entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere at the northern tip of the continent. It can also be described as the southe ...
, whose larvae eat prickly pear, was introduced in 1925 and rapidly reduced the cactus population. Alan Dodd, the son of the noted entomologist
Frederick Parkhurst Dodd Frederick Parkhurst Dodd (11 March 1861 - 27 July 1937) was an Australian entomologist. He was known as the Butterfly Man of Kuranda. Born in Victoria, Dodd worked in a bank in Townsville, Queensland for ten years before taking up entomology ...
, was a leading official in combating the prickly pear menace. A memorial hall in
Chinchilla, Queensland Chinchilla is a rural town and locality in the Western Downs Region, Queensland, Australia. In the , the locality of Chinchilla had a population of 6,612 people. Chinchilla is known as the 'Melon Capital of Australia', and plays host to a Melon ...
, commemorates the moth. The release of cochineal insects that eat the cactus and simultaneously kill the plant has proven an effective measure for combatting the spread. Natural distribution occurs via consumption and
seed dispersal In Spermatophyte plants, seed dispersal is the movement, spread or transport of seeds away from the parent plant. Plants have limited mobility and rely upon a variety of dispersal vectors to transport their seeds, including both abiotic vectors, ...
by many animals, including
antelope The term antelope is used to refer to many species of even-toed ruminant that are indigenous to various regions in Africa and Eurasia. Antelope comprise a wastebasket taxon defined as any of numerous Old World grazing and browsing hoofed mammals ...
s, nonhuman
primate Primates are a diverse order of mammals. They are divided into the strepsirrhines, which include the lemurs, galagos, and lorisids, and the haplorhines, which include the tarsiers and the simians (monkeys and apes, the latter including huma ...
s,
elephant Elephants are the largest existing land animals. Three living species are currently recognised: the African bush elephant, the African forest elephant, and the Asian elephant. They are the only surviving members of the family Elephantidae an ...
s, birds, and humans. When ingested by elephants, the sharp components of the plant cause harm to the mouth, stomach, and intestines.


Ecology

''O. ficus-indica'' thrives in regions with mild winters having a prolonged dry spell followed by hot summers with occasional rain and relatively low humidity. A mean annual rainfall of provides good growth rates. ''O. ficus-indica'' proliferates in various soils ranging from sub
acid In computer science, ACID ( atomicity, consistency, isolation, durability) is a set of properties of database transactions intended to guarantee data validity despite errors, power failures, and other mishaps. In the context of databases, a sequ ...
to sub
alkaline In chemistry, an alkali (; from ar, القلوي, al-qaly, lit=ashes of the saltwort) is a base (chemistry), basic, ionic compound, ionic salt (chemistry), salt of an alkali metal or an alkaline earth metal. An alkali can also be defined as ...
, with clay content not exceeding 15–20% and the soil well-drained. The shallow root system enables the plant to grow in shallow, loose soils, such as on mountain slopes. ''Opuntia'' spreads into large clonal colonies, which contribute to its being considered a
noxious weed A noxious weed, harmful weed or injurious weed is a weed that has been designated by an agricultural or other governing authority as a plant that is injurious to agricultural or horticultural crops, natural habitats or ecosystems, or humans or liv ...
in some places. Animals that eat ''Opuntia'' include the
prickly pear island snail ''Micrarionta opuntia'', known as the prickly pear island snail, pricklypear islandsnail, or prickly pear snail, is a species of land snail in the family Xanthonychidae. It is endemic to California, first formally described in 1975. The type ...
and ''
Cyclura ''Cyclura'' is a genus of lizards in the family Iguanidae. Member species of this genus are commonly known as "cycluras" or more commonly as rock iguanas and only occur on islands in the West Indies. Rock iguanas have a high degree of endemism, w ...
'' rock iguanas. The fruit are relished by many arid-land animals, chiefly birds, which thus help distribute the seeds. ''Opuntia''
pathogen In biology, a pathogen ( el, πάθος, "suffering", "passion" and , "producer of") in the oldest and broadest sense, is any organism or agent that can produce disease. A pathogen may also be referred to as an infectious agent, or simply a germ ...
s include the sac fungus ''
Colletotrichum coccodes ''Colletotrichum coccodes'' is a plant pathogen, which causes anthracnose on tomato and black dot disease of potato The potato is a starchy food, a tuber of the plant ''Solanum tuberosum'' and is a root vegetable native to the Americas. ...
'' and Sammons' ''Opuntia'' virus. The ant '' Crematogaster opuntiae'' and the spider '' Theridion opuntia'' are named because of their association with prickly pear cactus.


Toxicity

Although the plants are edible, the pointed hairs should not be eaten, and similar species with milky sap are suspect.


Uses


Nutrition

Raw opuntia leaves are 88% water, 10%
carbohydrate In organic chemistry, a carbohydrate () is a biomolecule consisting of carbon (C), hydrogen (H) and oxygen (O) atoms, usually with a hydrogen–oxygen atom ratio of 2:1 (as in water) and thus with the empirical formula (where ''m'' may or ma ...
s, and less than 1% both of
protein Proteins are large biomolecules and macromolecules that comprise one or more long chains of amino acid residues. Proteins perform a vast array of functions within organisms, including catalysing metabolic reactions, DNA replication, respo ...
and
fat In nutrition science, nutrition, biology, and chemistry, fat usually means any ester of fatty acids, or a mixture of such chemical compound, compounds, most commonly those that occur in living beings or in food. The term often refers spec ...
. In a reference serving, raw leaves provide of
food energy Food energy is chemical energy that animals (including humans) derive from their food to sustain their metabolism, including their muscle, muscular activity. Most animals derive most of their energy from aerobic respiration, namely combining the ...
, 17% of the
Daily Value The Reference Daily Intake (RDI) used in nutrition labeling on food and dietary supplement products in the U.S. and Canada is the daily intake level of a nutrient that is considered to be sufficient to meet the requirements of 97–98% of health ...
(DV) for
vitamin C Vitamin C (also known as ascorbic acid and ascorbate) is a water-soluble vitamin found in citrus and other fruits and vegetables, also sold as a dietary supplement and as a topical 'serum' ingredient to treat melasma (dark pigment spots) an ...
, and 24% DV for
magnesium Magnesium is a chemical element with the symbol Mg and atomic number 12. It is a shiny gray metal having a low density, low melting point and high chemical reactivity. Like the other alkaline earth metals (group 2 of the periodic ta ...
, with no other
micronutrient Micronutrients are nutrient, essential dietary elements required by organisms in varying quantities throughout life to orchestrate a range of physiological functions to maintain health. Micronutrient requirements differ between organisms; for exam ...
s in significant content.


Regional food uses

The fruit of prickly pears, commonly called cactus fruit, cactus fig, Indian fig (meaning " Native American", not
India India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...
), ''nopales'' or ''tuna'' in Spanish, is edible, although it must be peeled carefully to remove the small spines on the outer skin before consumption. If the outer layer is not properly removed,
glochid Glochids or glochidia (singular "glochidium") are hair-like spines or short prickles, generally barbed, found on the areoles of cacti in the sub-family ''Opuntioideae''. Cactus glochids easily detach from the plant and lodge in the skin, causin ...
s can be ingested, causing discomfort of the throat, lips, and tongue, as the small spines are easily lodged in the skin. Native Americans like the
Tequesta The Tequesta (also Tekesta, Tegesta, Chequesta, Vizcaynos) were a Native American tribe. At the time of first European contact they occupied an area along the southeastern Atlantic coast of Florida. They had infrequent contact with Europeans a ...
would roll the fruit around in a suitable medium (e.g. grit) to "
sand Sand is a granular material composed of finely divided mineral particles. Sand has various compositions but is defined by its grain size. Sand grains are smaller than gravel and coarser than silt. Sand can also refer to a textural class of s ...
" off the glochids. Alternatively, rotating the fruit in the flame of a campfire or torch has been used to remove the glochids. Today,
parthenocarpic In botany and horticulture, parthenocarpy is the natural or artificially induced production of fruit without fertilisation of ovules, which makes the fruit seedless. Stenospermocarpy may also produce apparently seedless fruit, but the seeds are ac ...
(seedless)
cultivar A cultivar is a type of cultivated plant that people have selected for desired traits and when propagated retain those traits. Methods used to propagate cultivars include: division, root and stem cuttings, offsets, grafting, tissue culture, ...
s are also available. The seeds can be used for flour. In Mexico, prickly pears are often used to make appetizers, soups, salads, entrees, vegetable dishes, breads, desserts, beverages,
candy Candy, also called sweets (British English) or lollies (Australian English Australian English (AusE, AusEng, AuE, AuEng, en-AU) is the set of varieties of the English language native to Australia. It is the country's common language an ...
, jelly, and drinks. The young
stem Stem or STEM may refer to: Plant structures * Plant stem, a plant's aboveground axis, made of vascular tissue, off which leaves and flowers hang * Stipe (botany), a stalk to support some other structure * Stipe (mycology), the stem of a mushro ...
segments, usually called pads or ''nopales'', are also edible in most species of ''Opuntia''. They are commonly used in
Mexican cuisine Mexican cuisine consists of the cooking cuisines and traditions of the modern country of Mexico. Its earliest roots lie in Mesoamerican cuisine. Its ingredients and methods begin with the first agricultural communities such as the Olmec and M ...
in dishes such as ''huevos con nopales'' (
egg An egg is an organic vessel grown by an animal to carry a possibly fertilized egg cell (a zygote) and to incubate from it an embryo within the egg until the embryo has become an animal fetus that can survive on its own, at which point the a ...
s with nopal), or ''
taco A taco (, , ) is a traditional Mexican food consisting of a small hand-sized corn- or wheat-based tortilla topped with a filling. The tortilla is then folded around the filling and eaten by hand. A taco can be made with a variety of filling ...
s de nopales''. ''Nopales'' are also an important ingredient in
New Mexican cuisine New Mexican cuisine is the cuisine of the Southwestern US state of New Mexico. The region is primarily known for its fusion of Pueblo Native American cuisine with Hispano Spanish and Mexican cuisine originating in Nuevo México. This cuisi ...
. In 2009 it was introduced as a cheaper alternative to corn for the production of tortillas and other corn products. They can also be pickled. ''Opuntia ficus-indica'' has been introduced to Europe, and flourishes in areas with a suitable climate, such as the south of
France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...
and southern
Italy Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical re ...
: In
Sicily (man) it, Siciliana (woman) , population_note = , population_blank1_title = , population_blank1 = , demographics_type1 = Ethnicity , demographics1_footnotes = , demographi ...
, they are referred to as ''fichi d'India'' (Italian literal translation of Indian fig) or ''ficurinia'' (
Sicilian language Sicilian ( scn, sicilianu, link=no, ; it, siciliano) is a Romance language that is spoken on the island of Sicily and its satellite islands. A variant, ''Calabro-Sicilian'', is spoken in southern Calabria, where it is called Southern Calabro ...
literal translation of Indian fig). In
Sardinia Sardinia ( ; it, Sardegna, label=Italian, Corsican and Tabarchino ; sc, Sardigna , sdc, Sardhigna; french: Sardaigne; sdn, Saldigna; ca, Sardenya, label=Algherese and Catalan) is the second-largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, after ...
, they are called ''figumorisca'' – Moorish figs), the same denomination they receive along the
Catalan Catalan may refer to: Catalonia From, or related to Catalonia: * Catalan language, a Romance language * Catalans, an ethnic group formed by the people from, or with origins in, Northern or southern Catalonia Places * 13178 Catalan, asteroid #1 ...
-speaking regions of the Western Mediterranean, ''figa de moro''. They can be found also in the
Struma River The Struma or Strymónas ( bg, Струма ; el, Στρυμόνας ; tr, (Struma) Karasu , 'black water') is a river in Bulgaria and Greece. Its ancient name was Strymṓn (Greek: Στρυμών ). Its drainage area is , of which in Bulgaria, ...
in
Bulgaria Bulgaria (; bg, България, Bǎlgariya), officially the Republic of Bulgaria,, ) is a country in Southeast Europe. It is situated on the eastern flank of the Balkans, and is bordered by Romania to the north, Serbia and North Macedon ...
, in southern
Portugal Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic ( pt, República Portuguesa, links=yes ), is a country whose mainland is located on the Iberian Peninsula of Southwestern Europe, and whose territory also includes the Atlantic archipelagos of ...
and
Madeira ) , anthem = ( en, "Anthem of the Autonomous Region of Madeira") , song_type = Regional anthem , image_map=EU-Portugal_with_Madeira_circled.svg , map_alt=Location of Madeira , map_caption=Location of Madeira , subdivision_type=Sovereign st ...
(where they are called ''tabaibo'', ''figo tuno'', or "Indian figs"), in
Andalusia Andalusia (, ; es, Andalucía ) is the southernmost Autonomous communities of Spain, autonomous community in Peninsular Spain. It is the most populous and the second-largest autonomous community in the country. It is officially recognised as a ...
,
Spain , image_flag = Bandera de España.svg , image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg , national_motto = ''Plus ultra'' (Latin)(English: "Further Beyond") , national_anthem = (English: "Royal March") , i ...
(where they are known as ''higos chumbos''). In
Greece Greece,, or , romanized: ', officially the Hellenic Republic, is a country in Southeast Europe. It is situated on the southern tip of the Balkans, and is located at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and Africa. Greece shares land borders with ...
, it grows in such places as the
Peloponnese The Peloponnese (), Peloponnesus (; el, Πελοπόννησος, Pelopónnēsos,(), or Morea is a peninsula and geographic regions of Greece, geographic region in southern Greece. It is connected to the central part of the country by the Isthmu ...
region, Ionian Islands, or
Crete Crete ( el, Κρήτη, translit=, Modern: , Ancient: ) is the largest and most populous of the Greek islands, the 88th largest island in the world and the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, after Sicily, Sardinia, Cyprus, and ...
, and its figs are known as ''frangosyka'' (Frankish, i.e. Western European, figs) or ''pavlosyka'' (Paul's figs), depending on the region. In
Albania Albania ( ; sq, Shqipëri or ), or , also or . officially the Republic of Albania ( sq, Republika e Shqipërisë), is a country in Southeastern Europe. It is located on the Adriatic and Ionian Seas within the Mediterranean Sea and shares ...
, they are called ''fiq deti'' translated as 'sea figs', and are present in the south-west shore. The figs are also grown in
Cyprus Cyprus ; tr, Kıbrıs (), officially the Republic of Cyprus,, , lit: Republic of Cyprus is an island country located south of the Anatolian Peninsula in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. Its continental position is disputed; while it is geo ...
, where they are known as ''papoutsósyka'' or ''babutsa'' (shoe figs). The prickly pear also grows widely on the islands of Malta, where it is enjoyed by the Maltese as a typical summer fruit (known as ''bajtar tax-xewk'', literally 'spiny figs'), as well as being used to make the popular liqueur known as ''
bajtra ''Opuntia'', commonly called prickly pear or pear cactus, is a genus of flowering plants in the cactus family Cactaceae. Prickly pears are also known as ''tuna'' (fruit), ''sabra'', '' nopal'' (paddle, plural ''nopales'') from the Nahuatl word ...
''. The prickly pear is so commonly found in the Maltese islands, it is often used as a dividing wall between many of Malta's characteristic terraced fields in place of the usual rubble walls. The prickly pear was introduced to
Eritrea Eritrea ( ; ti, ኤርትራ, Ertra, ; ar, إرتريا, ʾIritriyā), officially the State of Eritrea, is a country in the Horn of Africa region of Eastern Africa, with its capital and largest city at Asmara. It is bordered by Ethiopia ...
during the period of Italian colonisation between 1890 and 1940. It is locally known there as ''beles'' and is abundant during the late summer and early autumn (late July through September). The ''beles'' from the holy monastery of
Debre Bizen Debre Bizen is an Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church monastery. Located at the top of Debre Bizen (mountain), Debre Bizen the mountain (2460 meters) near the town of Nefasit in Eritrea. Its library contains many important Ge'ez manuscripts. His ...
is said to be particularly sweet and juicy. In
Morocco Morocco (),, ) officially the Kingdom of Morocco, is the westernmost country in the Maghreb region of North Africa. It overlooks the Mediterranean Sea to the north and the Atlantic Ocean to the west, and has land borders with Algeria to ...
,
Tunisia ) , image_map = Tunisia location (orthographic projection).svg , map_caption = Location of Tunisia in northern Africa , image_map2 = , capital = Tunis , largest_city = capital , ...
,
Libya Libya (; ar, ليبيا, Lībiyā), officially the State of Libya ( ar, دولة ليبيا, Dawlat Lībiyā), is a country in the Maghreb region in North Africa. It is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to Egypt–Libya bo ...
,
Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia, officially the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), is a country in Western Asia. It covers the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and has a land area of about , making it the fifth-largest country in Asia, the second-largest in the A ...
,
Jordan Jordan ( ar, الأردن; tr. ' ), officially the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan,; tr. ' is a country in Western Asia. It is situated at the crossroads of Asia, Africa, and Europe, within the Levant region, on the East Bank of the Jordan Rive ...
, and other parts of
North Africa North Africa, or Northern Africa is a region encompassing the northern portion of the African continent. There is no singularly accepted scope for the region, and it is sometimes defined as stretching from the Atlantic shores of Mauritania in ...
and the
Middle East The Middle East ( ar, الشرق الأوسط, ISO 233: ) is a geopolitical region commonly encompassing Arabian Peninsula, Arabia (including the Arabian Peninsula and Bahrain), Anatolia, Asia Minor (Asian part of Turkey except Hatay Pro ...
such as
Israel Israel (; he, יִשְׂרָאֵל, ; ar, إِسْرَائِيل, ), officially the State of Israel ( he, מְדִינַת יִשְׂרָאֵל, label=none, translit=Medīnat Yīsrāʾēl; ), is a country in Western Asia. It is situated ...
, prickly pears of the yellow and orange varieties are grown by the side of farms, beside railway tracks and other otherwise non cultivable land. It is sold in summer by street vendors, and is considered a refreshing fruit for that season. In Libya, it is a popular summer fruit and called by the locals ''Hindi'', which literally means ''Indian''. ''Tungi'' is the local St. Helenian name for cactus pears. The plants (
Indian fig opuntia ''Opuntia ficus-indica'', the Indian fig opuntia, fig opuntia, or prickly pear, is a species of cactus that has long been a domesticated crop plant grown in agricultural economies throughout arid and semiarid parts of the world. ''O. ficus-indica ...
) were originally brought to the island by the colonial ivory traders from East Africa in the 1850s. ''Tungi'' cactus now grows wild in the dry coastal regions of the island. Three principal cultivars of ''tungi'' grow on the island: the 'English' with yellow fruit; the 'Madeira' with large red fruit; and the small, firm 'spiny red'.Tungi also gives its name to a local Spirit distilled at The St Helena distillery at Alarm Forest, the most remote distillery in the world, made entirely from the opuntia cactus. Cactus pear is being promoted and researched by
ICARDA The International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA), a member of CGIAR, supported by the CGIAR Fund, is a non-profit agricultural research institute that aims to improve the livelihoods of the resource-poor across the ...
for
India India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...
,
Jordan Jordan ( ar, الأردن; tr. ' ), officially the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan,; tr. ' is a country in Western Asia. It is situated at the crossroads of Asia, Africa, and Europe, within the Levant region, on the East Bank of the Jordan Rive ...
, and
Pakistan Pakistan ( ur, ), officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan ( ur, , label=none), is a country in South Asia. It is the world's List of countries and dependencies by population, fifth-most populous country, with a population of almost 24 ...
especially. It is an underappreciated crop in these countries and has undergone recent expansion in cultivated area. In some particularly promising areas of India and Pakistan it has given a 30% increase in
milk Milk is a white liquid food produced by the mammary glands of mammals. It is the primary source of nutrition for young mammals (including breastfed human infants) before they are able to digestion, digest solid food. Immune factors and immune ...
yield /
hectare The hectare (; SI symbol: ha) is a non-SI metric unit of area equal to a square with 100-metre sides (1 hm2), or 10,000 m2, and is primarily used in the measurement of land. There are 100 hectares in one square kilometre. An acre is a ...
(/
acre The acre is a unit of land area used in the imperial Imperial is that which relates to an empire, emperor, or imperialism. Imperial or The Imperial may also refer to: Places United States * Imperial, California * Imperial, Missouri * Imp ...
).


Folk medicine

In Mexican
folk medicine Traditional medicine (also known as indigenous medicine or folk medicine) comprises medical aspects of traditional knowledge that developed over generations within the folk beliefs of various societies, including indigenous peoples, before the ...
, its pulp and juice are considered treatments for
wounds A wound is a rapid onset of injury that involves lacerated or punctured skin (an ''open'' wound), or a contusion (a ''closed'' wound) from blunt force trauma or compression. In pathology, a ''wound'' is an acute injury that damages the epider ...
and
inflammation Inflammation (from la, wikt:en:inflammatio#Latin, inflammatio) is part of the complex biological response of body tissues to harmful stimuli, such as pathogens, damaged cells, or Irritation, irritants, and is a protective response involving im ...
of the digestive and
urinary tract The urinary system, also known as the urinary tract or renal system, consists of the kidneys, ureters, bladder, and the urethra. The purpose of the urinary system is to eliminate waste from the body, regulate blood volume and blood pressure, con ...
s, although there is no high-quality evidence for any clinical benefit of using opuntia for these purposes. Prior to modern medicine, Native Americans and Mexicans primarily used ''Opuntia'' as a coagulant for open wounds, using the pulp of the stem either by splitting the stem or scraping out the pulp. In one recent study, it was found that ''Opuntia'' aided in the prevention or slow down of diabetes, obesity, metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular disease, and some cancers. The results of the group that was taking ''Opuntia'' showed a reduction in BMI, body composition, and waist circumference when compared to the placebo group.


Other uses


In dye production

''
Dactylopius coccus The cochineal ( , ; ''Dactylopius coccus'') is a scale insect in the suborder Sternorrhyncha, from which the natural dye carmine is derived. A primarily sessile parasite native to tropical and subtropical South America through North America ( ...
'' is a
scale insect Scale insects are small insects of the order Hemiptera, suborder Sternorrhyncha. Of dramatically variable appearance and extreme sexual dimorphism, they comprise the infraorder Coccomorpha which is considered a more convenient grouping than the ...
from which
cochineal The cochineal ( , ; ''Dactylopius coccus'') is a scale insect in the suborder Sternorrhyncha, from which the natural dye carmine is derived. A primarily sessility (motility), sessile parasitism, parasite native to tropical and subtropical Sout ...
dye is derived. ''D. coccus'' itself is native to tropical and subtropical
South America South America is a continent entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere at the northern tip of the continent. It can also be described as the southe ...
and
Mexico Mexico (Spanish: México), officially the United Mexican States, is a country in the southern portion of North America. It is bordered to the north by the United States; to the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; to the southeast by Guatema ...
. This insect, a primarily
sessile Sessility, or sessile, may refer to: * Sessility (motility), organisms which are not able to move about * Sessility (botany), flowers or leaves that grow directly from the stem or peduncle of a plant * Sessility (medicine), tumors and polyps that ...
parasite Parasitism is a close relationship between species, where one organism, the parasite, lives on or inside another organism, the host, causing it some harm, and is adapted structurally to this way of life. The entomologist E. O. Wilson has ...
, lives on
cacti A cactus (, or less commonly, cactus) is a member of the plant family Cactaceae, a family comprising about 127 genera with some 1750 known species of the order Caryophyllales. The word ''cactus'' derives, through Latin, from the Ancient Greek ...
from the genus ''Opuntia'', feeding on moisture and nutrients in the cactus sap. The insect produces
carminic acid Carminic acid (C22H20O13) is a red glucosidal hydroxyanthrapurin that occurs naturally in some scale insects, such as the cochineal, Armenian cochineal, and Polish cochineal. The insects produce the acid as a deterrent to predators. An aluminu ...
, which deters predation by other insects. The carminic acid can be extracted from the insect's body and eggs to make the red dye. Cochineal is used primarily as a
red Red is the color at the long wavelength end of the visible spectrum of light, next to orange and opposite violet. It has a dominant wavelength of approximately 625–740 nanometres. It is a primary color in the RGB color model and a secondar ...
food colouring Food coloring, or color additive, is any dye, pigment, or substance that imparts color when it is added to food or drink. They come in many forms consisting of liquids, powders, gels, and pastes. Food coloring is used in both commercial food ...
and for
cosmetics Cosmetics are constituted mixtures of chemical compounds derived from either natural sources, or synthetically created ones. Cosmetics have various purposes. Those designed for personal care and skin care can be used to cleanse or protect ...
. The cochineal dye was used by the
Aztec The Aztecs () were a Mesoamerican culture that flourished in central Mexico in the post-classic period from 1300 to 1521. The Aztec people included different Indigenous peoples of Mexico, ethnic groups of central Mexico, particularly those g ...
and
Maya Maya may refer to: Civilizations * Maya peoples, of southern Mexico and northern Central America ** Maya civilization, the historical civilization of the Maya peoples ** Maya language, the languages of the Maya peoples * Maya (Ethiopia), a populat ...
peoples of Central and North America, and by the
Inca The Inca Empire (also known as the Incan Empire and the Inka Empire), called ''Tawantinsuyu'' by its subjects, (Quechua for the "Realm of the Four Parts",  "four parts together" ) was the largest empire in pre-Columbian America. The admin ...
in South America. Produced almost exclusively in
Oaxaca Oaxaca ( , also , , from nci, Huāxyacac ), officially the Free and Sovereign State of Oaxaca ( es, Estado Libre y Soberano de Oaxaca), is one of the 32 states that compose the political divisions of Mexico, Federative Entities of Mexico. It is ...
, Mexico, by indigenous producers, cochineal became Mexico's second-most valued export after silver. The dyestuff was consumed throughout Europe, and was so highly valued, its price was regularly quoted on the London and Amsterdam Commodity Exchanges. The biggest producers of cochineal are
Peru , image_flag = Flag of Peru.svg , image_coat = Escudo nacional del Perú.svg , other_symbol = Great Seal of the State , other_symbol_type = Seal (emblem), National seal , national_motto = "Fi ...
, the
Canary Islands The Canary Islands (; es, Canarias, ), also known informally as the Canaries, are a Spanish autonomous community and archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean, in Macaronesia. At their closest point to the African mainland, they are west of Morocc ...
, and
Chile Chile, officially the Republic of Chile, is a country in the western part of South America. It is the southernmost country in the world, and the closest to Antarctica, occupying a long and narrow strip of land between the Andes to the east a ...
. Current health concerns over artificial food additives have renewed the popularity of cochineal dyes, and the increased demand is making cultivation for insect farming an attractive opportunity in other regions, such as in Mexico, where cochineal production had declined again owing to the numerous natural enemies of the scale insect. Apart from cochineal, the red dye
betanin Betanin, or Beetroot Red, is a red glycosidic food dye obtained from beets; its aglycone, obtained by hydrolyzing away the glucose molecule, is betanidin. As a food additive, its E number is E162. The color of betanin depends on pH; between fo ...
can be extracted from some ''Opuntia'' plants themselves.


For animal fodder

Cactus is used as a fodder crop for animals in arid and dryland regions. Some farmers prepare it with a fermentation produce, to remove the spines, and increase the digestibility.


As a source of "vegan leather"

The thick skin of nopal cactus can be harvested as an environmentally-friendly leather replacement.


For fuel

Bioethanol Ethanol (abbr. EtOH; also called ethyl alcohol, grain alcohol, drinking alcohol, or simply alcohol) is an organic compound. It is an Alcohol (chemistry), alcohol with the chemical formula . Its formula can be also written as or (an ethyl ...
can be produced from some ''Opuntia'' species.


For bioplastic

Nopal juice can be used to produce
bioplastic Bioplastics are plastic materials produced from renewable biomass sources, such as vegetable fats and oils, corn starch, straw, woodchips, sawdust, recycled food waste, etc. Some bioplastics are obtained by processing directly from natural ...
.


Culture

The prickly pear cactus has been used for centuries both as a food source and a natural fence that keeps in livestock and marks the boundaries of family lands. They are resilient and often grow back following removal. The 1975–1988 version of the emblem of Malta also featured a prickly pear, along with a traditional ''dgħajsa'', a shovel and pitchfork, and the rising sun. The cactus lends its name to a song by British jazz/classical group
Portico Quartet Portico Quartet are an instrumental band from London, UK. They are known for their use of the hang, a modern percussion instrument. Their debut album, ''Knee-Deep in the North Sea'', was nominated for the 2008 Mercury Prize and was '' Time Out ...
. The song "My Rival", on the album ''
Gaucho A gaucho () or gaúcho () is a skilled horseman, reputed to be brave and unruly. The figure of the gaucho is a folk symbol of Argentina, Uruguay, Rio Grande do Sul in Brazil, and the south of Chilean Patagonia. Gauchos became greatly admired and ...
'' by the American jazz-pop group
Steely Dan Steely Dan is an American rock band founded in 1971 in New York by Walter Becker (guitars, bass, backing vocals) and Donald Fagen (keyboards, lead vocals). Initially the band had a stable lineup, but in 1974, Becker and Fagen retired from live ...
begins with the words, "The wind was driving in my face/The smell of prickly pear." In the fall of 1961, Cuba had its troops plant an barrier of ''Opuntia'' cactus along the northeastern section of the fence surrounding the
Guantanamo Bay Naval Base Guantanamo Bay Naval Base ( es, Base Naval de la Bahía de Guantánamo), officially known as Naval Station Guantanamo Bay or NSGB, (also called GTMO, pronounced Gitmo as jargon by members of the U.S. military) is a United States military base ...
to stop Cubans from escaping Cuba to take refuge in the United States. This was dubbed the "Cactus Curtain", an allusion to
Europe Europe is a large peninsula conventionally considered a continent in its own right because of its great physical size and the weight of its history and traditions. Europe is also considered a Continent#Subcontinents, subcontinent of Eurasia ...
's
Iron Curtain The Iron Curtain was the political boundary dividing Europe into two separate areas from the end of World War II in 1945 until the end of the Cold War in 1991. The term symbolizes the efforts by the Soviet Union (USSR) to block itself and its s ...
and the
Bamboo Curtain The Bamboo Curtain is a Cold War political demarcation between the communist states of East Asia, particularly the People's Republic of China, and the capitalist and non-communist states of East, South, and Southeast Asia. To the north and nor ...
in
East Asia East Asia is the eastern region of Asia, which is defined in both geographical and ethno-cultural terms. The modern states of East Asia include China, Japan, Mongolia, North Korea, South Korea, and Taiwan. China, North Korea, South Korea and ...
. Uruguayan-born footballer
Bruno Fornaroli Bruno Fornaroli Mezza (; born 7 September 1987) is a professional footballer who plays as a forward or attacking midfielder for Melbourne Victory. Born in Uruguay, he plays for the Australian national team. Club career Fornaroli was born in ...
is nicknamed prickly pear due to his sometimes spiky hairstyles.


Mexico

The coat of arms of Mexico depicts a Mexican golden
eagle Eagle is the common name for many large birds of prey of the family Accipitridae. Eagles belong to several groups of genera, some of which are closely related. Most of the 68 species of eagle are from Eurasia and Africa. Outside this area, just ...
, perched upon an ''Opuntia''
cactus A cactus (, or less commonly, cactus) is a member of the plant family Cactaceae, a family comprising about 127 genera with some 1750 known species of the order Caryophyllales. The word ''cactus'' derives, through Latin, from the Ancient Greek ...
, holding a
rattlesnake Rattlesnakes are venomous snakes that form the genera ''Crotalus'' and ''Sistrurus'' of the subfamily Crotalinae (the pit vipers). All rattlesnakes are vipers. Rattlesnakes are predators that live in a wide array of habitats, hunting small anim ...
. According to the official history of Mexico, the coat of arms is inspired by an
Aztec The Aztecs () were a Mesoamerican culture that flourished in central Mexico in the post-classic period from 1300 to 1521. The Aztec people included different Indigenous peoples of Mexico, ethnic groups of central Mexico, particularly those g ...
legend regarding the founding of
Tenochtitlan , ; es, Tenochtitlan also known as Mexico-Tenochtitlan, ; es, México-Tenochtitlan was a large Mexican in what is now the historic center of Mexico City. The exact date of the founding of the city is unclear. The date 13 March 1325 was ...
. The Aztecs, then a nomadic tribe, were wandering throughout Mexico in search of a divine sign to indicate the precise spot upon which they were to build their capital. Their god Huitzilopochtli had commanded them to find an
eagle Eagle is the common name for many large birds of prey of the family Accipitridae. Eagles belong to several groups of genera, some of which are closely related. Most of the 68 species of eagle are from Eurasia and Africa. Outside this area, just ...
devouring a snake, perched atop a cactus that grew on a rock submerged in a lake. After 200 years of wandering, they found the promised sign on a small island in the swampy
Lake Texcoco Lake Texcoco ( es, Lago de Texcoco) was a natural lake within the "Anahuac" or Valley of Mexico. Lake Texcoco is best known as where the Aztecs built the city of Tenochtitlan, which was located on an island within the lake. After the Spanish con ...
. There they founded their new capital,
Tenochtitlan , ; es, Tenochtitlan also known as Mexico-Tenochtitlan, ; es, México-Tenochtitlan was a large Mexican in what is now the historic center of Mexico City. The exact date of the founding of the city is unclear. The date 13 March 1325 was ...
. The cactus (''O. ficus-indica'';
Nahuatl Nahuatl (; ), Aztec, or Mexicano is a language or, by some definitions, a group of languages of the Uto-Aztecan language family. Varieties of Nahuatl are spoken by about Nahua peoples, most of whom live mainly in Central Mexico and have smaller ...
: ''tenochtli''), full of fruits, is the symbol for the island of Tenochtitlan.


Israeli-born Jew

The cactus fig is called ''tzabar'' in
Hebrew Hebrew (; ; ) is a Northwest Semitic language of the Afroasiatic language family. Historically, it is one of the spoken languages of the Israelites and their longest-surviving descendants, the Jews and Samaritans. It was largely preserved ...
( he, צבר). This cactus is also the origin of the term "'' Sabra''" used to describe any Jew born in Israel. The allusion is to a thorny, spiky skin on the outside, but a soft, sweet interior, suggesting, though the
Israel Israel (; he, יִשְׂרָאֵל, ; ar, إِسْرَائِيل, ), officially the State of Israel ( he, מְדִינַת יִשְׂרָאֵל, label=none, translit=Medīnat Yīsrāʾēl; ), is a country in Western Asia. It is situated ...
i Sabras are rough on the outside, they are sweet and sensitive once one gets to know them. This term is might be derived from an Arabic word for this cactus صبار ''ṣubbār'', where the related term ''sabr'' also translates to "patience" or "tenacity".


See also

*
Sabra (comics) Sabra is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by Bill Mantlo and Sal Buscema, Sabra first appeared in '' Incredible Hulk'' #250 (August 1980) in a cameo, before making a full appearance in ' ...
*
Sabra (person) A sabra or tzabar ( he, צַבָּר, plural: ''tzabarim'') is an informal-turned-formal modern Hebrew term that defines any Jew born in Israel. The term came into widespread use in the 1930s to refer to a Jew who had been born in Palestine (inclu ...


References


External links

* * * Argiope argentata#Habitat and distribution {{Authority control Cacti of the United States Cacti of Mexico Cacti of South America Flora of South America Flora of Central America North American desert flora Mesoamerican cuisine Ayahuasca Desert fruits Medicinal plants Mexican cuisine Mexican alcoholic drinks Opuntioideae genera Plants used in Native American cuisine Taxa named by Philip Miller