Prickly pear

Opuntia policantha

cactaceae (cactus family)

The genus name of this spiky plant, Opuntiait was given in respect to the ancient city of Opus or Locris, Greece. polychants, the species name, actually means “many corners”, perhaps in reference to the structure of this cactus, whose jointed series of flat pads grow at an angle to each other. The common name prickly pear refers to the pear-like fruits, which are often sold at fruit stands and vegetable markets throughout the country. To add more confusion, the flavorful fruits are commonly called “tuna” in the Southwest, or “tuna pears”…so much for names!

The big, bristly Opuntia The genus encompasses perhaps three hundred species of tree-prostrate, mostly jointed, cacti found from Massachusetts and British Columbia to the Straits of Magellan. These mostly clumsy and clumsy plants, also called cholla cacti, have formidable spines and showy flowers and fruit. I have found ~large colonies of opuntia in full glorious bloom on the islands of the Norwalk Archipelago in Long Island Sound, where they overwinter well and welcome seabirds to their colonies with their large yellow spring flowers. Their ability to withstand unfavorable growing conditions makes them useful ornamentals, especially in rockeries, sandy banks, and medicine wheel gardens.

0. ficus indica, the Indian or tuna fig, is widely cultivated for its abundant leaves and edible fruits. Centuries ago, the Spanish adopted the indigenous word Taíno you do not have for the small red fruits of this plant, long a favorite food in tropical America. The teddy bear, 0. bigelovii, grows 12 to 8 feet tall in the west and produces pale yellow flowers in spring. the flapjack cactus, 0.chlorotica, grows up to six feet tall with long spines and yellow flowers. The golden pink beavertail tuna, 0.basilarisIt has yellow to pink flowers. There are so many fascinating species of cholla, hedgehog, and prickly pear to consider for the xeriscape garden.

The Aztec city of Tenochtitlán, “place of the nopales”, was founded in 1345 AD. C. and later became Mexico City. His tuna symbol is at the heart of the Mexican coat of arms and on most Mexican coins. This cactus is ubiquitous in the southwestern desert and throughout the Mexican countryside.

The Aztec mealybug is made from the female insects found on the prickly pear cactus and results in beautiful shades of purple, red, and magenta.

Traditional uses:

Throughout the Indian towns, both the pads and the sweet and delicious fruits of the prickly pear and many other native cacti were and continue to be consumed. The Zuni made a fine red dye from the fruits of the prickly pear and the bee plant, dried and ground together. Pads and fruits are best collected with sharp shovels and gloved hands; then the spines can be roasted or burned. The peeled pads are used in the mouth to relieve swollen gums and mouth sores, and can be applied as a poultice for tumors and skin lesions. The dried flowers are also used in poultices and applied to the skin as anti-inflammatory treatments. These dried flower poultices can also improve hair and scalp conditions. The mucilaginous juice is an anti-inflammatory diuretic, and the fruits are often mixed with cornmeal in various dishes. The natives also use the juice, pads and fruits of the prickly pear to treat diabetes.

Modern uses:

Today a spineless nopal is grown and sold for gourmet markets, especially in the Southwest, where these leaves and fruit are frequent ingredients in regional foods. Pickled opuntia pads provide the nopales enjoyed in Mexican cuisine. Often available in supermarkets, rosy red tuna pears are delicious raw or cooked in various sweet dishes and jellies. The mucilaginous exudations from nopal pads are used directly on the skin to relieve rashes and many skin problems.

Deposits:

Be careful to avoid the cactus spines. Handle these cacti with great care, using heavy garden gloves; You can make a corset out of rolled newspaper to wrap the plants around when handling them.

Growing and Propagation Needs:

Prickly pears will grow well in sandy and loamy soils in full sun. They can be easily propagated from joints (the kind that take root easily in good soil) and are just as easily grown from seed. They grow as far north as Connecticut and Massachusetts. over a large area. Many gardeners want them, so you may often be cutting and giving away pads to root new plants. Perhaps your herb garden will become a friendship garden as you share your plants with others.

Companions:

Prickly pears grow well with yucca, yarrow, Oregon grape holly, and poke. They will also make good companions to many other plants in the garden, but they do not like to be crowded and shaded. Hummingbirds love opuntia flowers.

The prickly pear grew so thick that in summer when you picked the fruit it was only four steps from one bush to the next.
– María Chona, papago healer, 1930