Prickly Pear Cactus

Prickly pear cactus represent about a dozen species of the Opuntia genus (Family Cactaceae) in the North American deserts. All have flat, fleshy pads that look like large leaves. The pads are actually modified branches or stems that serve several functions -- water storage, photosynthesis and flower production. Chollas are also members of the Opuntia genus but have cylindrical, jointed stems rather than flat pads.

Like other cactus, most prickly pears and chollas have large spines -- actually modified leaves -- growing from tubercles -- small, wart-like projections -- on their stems. But members of the Opuntia genus are unique because of their clusters of fine, tiny, barbed spines called glochids. Found just above the cluster of regular spines, glochids are yellow or red in color and detach easily from the pads. Glochids are often difficult to see and more difficult to remove, once lodged in the skin.

The fruits of most prickly pears are edible and sold in stores under the name "tuna." Prickly pear branches (the pads) are also cooked and eaten as a vegetable. They, too, are sold in stores under the name "Nopalito." Because of the glochids, great care is required when harvesting or preparing prickly pear cactus. Both fruits and pads of the prickly pear cactus are rich in slowly absorbed soluble fibers that may help keep blood sugar stable. Prickly Pear Nectar is made with the juice and pulp of the fruits and is available from our online store. Click Here

Range & Habitat

Prickly pear cactus are found in all of the deserts of the American Southwest, with different species having adapted to different locale and elevation ranges. Most require course, well-drained soil in dry, rocky flats or slopes. But some prefer mountain pinyon/juniper forests, while others require steep, rocky slopes in mountain foothills.

Description

Most prickly pear cactus have yellow, red or purple flowers, even among the same species. They vary in height from less than a foot (Plains, Hedgehog, Tuberous) to 6 or 7 feet (Texas, Santa Rita, Pancake). Pads can vary in width, length, shape and color. The Beavertail, Santa Rita and Blind Pear are regarded as spineless, but all have glochids.

In addition to the North American native prickly pear cactus listed below, there are many varieties, non-native imports and hybrids, so identification can often be difficult. Information on the 15 species below is based on wild, non-cultivated samples.

There has been medical interest in the Prickly Pear plant. Some studies have shown that the pectin contained in the Prickly Pear pulp lowers levels of "bad" cholesterol while leaving "good" cholesterol levels unchanged. Another study found that the fibrous pectin in the fruit may lowers diabetics' need for insulin. Both fruits and pads of the prickly pear cactus are rich in slowly absorbed soluble fibers that help keep blood sugar stable. There are on going studies and at this point there are no proven results on humans. You can make your own study and see if works for you, which is the only test that really counts. More...

		Prickly Pear Cactus Genus Opuntia
		Prickly pear cactus represent about a dozen species of the Opuntia genus (Family Cactaceae) in the North American deserts. All have flat, fleshy pads that look like large leaves. The pads are actually modified branches or stems that serve several functions -- water storage, photosynthesis and flower production. Chollas are also members of the Opuntia genus but have cylindrical, jointed stems rather than flat pads. Like other cactus, most prickly pears and chollas have large spines -- actually modified leaves -- growing from tubercles -- small, wart-like projections -- on their stems. But members of the Opuntia genus are unique because of their clusters of fine, tiny, barbed spines called glochids. Found just above the cluster of regular spines, glochids are yellow or red in color and detach easily from the pads. Glochids are often difficult to see and more difficult to remove, once lodged in the skin. The fruits of most prickly pears are edible and sold in stores under the name "tuna." Prickly pear branches (the pads) are also cooked and eaten as a vegetable. They, too, are sold in stores under the name "Nopalito." Because of the glochids, great care is required when harvesting or preparing prickly pear cactus. Both fruits and pads of the prickly pear cactus are rich in slowly absorbed soluble fibers that may help keep blood sugar stable. Prickly Pear Nectar is made with the juice and pulp of the fruits and is available from our online store. Click Here Range & Habitat Prickly pear cactus are found in all of the deserts of the American Southwest, with different species having adapted to different locale and elevation ranges. Most require course, well-drained soil in dry, rocky flats or slopes. But some prefer mountain pinyon/juniper forests, while others require steep, rocky slopes in mountain foothills. Description Most prickly pear cactus have yellow, red or purple flowers, even among the same species. They vary in height from less than a foot (Plains, Hedgehog, Tuberous) to 6 or 7 feet (Texas, Santa Rita, Pancake). Pads can vary in width, length, shape and color. The Beavertail, Santa Rita and Blind Pear are regarded as spineless, but all have glochids. In addition to the North American native prickly pear cactus listed below, there are many varieties, non-native imports and hybrids, so identification can often be difficult. Information on the 15 species below is based on wild, non-cultivated samples. There has been medical interest in the Prickly Pear plant. Some studies have shown that the pectin contained in the Prickly Pear pulp lowers levels of "bad" cholesterol while leaving "good" cholesterol levels unchanged. Another study found that the fibrous pectin in the fruit may lowers diabetics' need for insulin. Both fruits and pads of the prickly pear cactus are rich in slowly absorbed soluble fibers that help keep blood sugar stable. There are on going studies and at this point there are no proven results on humans. You can make your own study and see if works for you, which is the only test that really counts. More... <==Go back BEARDED PRICKLY PEAR Opuntia strigil Desert: Chihuahuan Desert Height: Up to 3 feet Pads: Small, oblong, yellow-green with short, colored spines Flowers: Cream-color Fruit: Small, bright red Elevation: 3,000-4,500 feet BEAVERTAIL CACTUS Opuntia basilaris Desert: Great Basin, Mojave, Sonoran Height: 12-18 inches Pads: Shaped like a beaver's tail, gray-green to 13 inches Flowers: Bright rose, 2-3 inches Fruit: Oval to 1.5 inches, gray -brown, dry at maturity with many seeds Elevation: 0-9,000 feet BLIND PRICKLY PEAR Opuntia rufida Desert: Chihuahuan near Big Bend, Texas Height: Up to 6 feet Pads: Circular, 6 inches, covered with velvety hairs and reddish glochids Flowers: Bright yellow, orange with age Fruit: Red and fleshy Elevation: 2,000-3,500 feet BROWN-SPINDED PRICKLY PEAR Opuntia phaeacantha Desert: Great Basin, Mojave, Sonoran and Chihuahuan Height: 2-3 feet Pads: Oblong, blue-green, 4-6 inches Flowers: Yellow, sometimes red at the base Fruit: Plump, juicy red or purple Elevation: 2,000-8,000 feet ENGLEMANN'S PRICKLY PEAR Opuntia engelmannii Desert: Sonoran and Chihuahuan Height: Up to 5 feet Pads: Blue-green, 12-inch circular or oblong Flowers: Yellow to peach with age Fruit: Large, juicy, reddish purple Elevation: 1,500-6,200 feet HEDGEHOG PRICKLY PEAR / PORCUPINE PRICKLY PEAR Opuntia erinacea Desert: Mojave, Great Basin Height: 12-18 inches Pads: Spiny, 5 inches Flowers: Bright yellow or rose Fruit: Very spiny Elevation: 1,500-7,500 feet LOW PRICKLY PEAR / SMOOTH PRICKLY PEAR Opuntia humifusa Desert: Great Basin, Mojave, Sonoran and Chihuahuan Height: Up to 2 feet Pads: Oval or round, 3-6 inches Flowers: Sulfur yellow with red base Fruit: Pear-shaped and hairless Elevation: 0-5,500 feet NEW MEXICO PRICKLY PEAR / PURPLE-FRUITED PRICKLY PEAR Opuntia phaecantha Desert: Chihuahuan Desert Height: Up to 3.5 feet Pads: Green, 4-6 inches with downward spines Flowers: Bright yellow, 2 inches Fruit: Pear-shaped, reddish purple Elevation: 500-3,000 feet PANCAKE PRICKLY PEAR Opuntia chlorotica Desert: Mojave and Sonoran Height: Up to 7 feet Pads: Circular, bluish, arising from a thick, round trunk Flowers: Yellow with red centers Fruit: Fleshy, purple-gray Elevation: 2,000-6,000 feet PLAINS PRICKLY PEAR Opuntia polycantha Desert: Great Basin, Mojave, Sonoran, Chihuahuan Height: 6-12 inches Pads: Oval, 3-4 inches, blue-green Flowers: Reddish-orange to yellow, 2.5 inches. Fruit: Very spiny, to 1.5 inches, tan and dry when ripe Elevation: 4,000-10,000 feet PURPLE PRICKLY PEAR Opuntia violacea Desert: Chihuahuan Height: Up to 3.5 feet Pads: Oblong, bluish purple, with long black or white spines Flowers: Yellow with red centers Fruit: Oval to 1.5 inches, green Elevation: 3,000-5,500 feet SANTA RITA PRICKLY PEAR Opuntia violacea Desert: Chihuahuan Height: Up to 6 feet Pads: Hairless lavender to purple Flowers: Lemon-yellow Fruit: Oval to 1.5 inches, green Elevation: 1,500-7,500 feet SPINY-FRUITED PRICKLY PEAR Opuntia spinosbacca Desert: Chihuahuan Desert, Big Bend, Texas Height: Up to 4 feet Pads: Elongated, yellow-green with orange spines Flowers: Yellow-orange with red bases Fruit: Spiny, fleshy, yellow-green Elevation: 2,000-3,000 feet TEXAS PRICKLY PEAR Opuntia lindheimeri Desert: Chihuahuan Height: Up to 5.5 feet Pads: 10-inch oval with translucent yellow spines Flowers: Yellow Fruit: Purple with white top Elevation: 0-4,600 feet TUBEROUS PRICKLY PEAR Opuntia macrorhiza Desert: Sonoran and Chihuahuan Height: 6 inches Pads: Dark green or blue-green Flowers: Yellow, red centers or all red Fruit: Juicy and spineless Elevation: 2,000-9,000 feet Desert Cacti Cholla Cactus Beavertail Cactus Chain Fruit Cholla Desert Christmas Cactus Prickly Pear Sweets & Treats Desert Plant & Wildflower Index

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