Common Prickly pear
Opuntia stricta

Family: Cactaceae

What it is like

A cactus. It grows 1 m tall. The stems are fleshy with leaf-like joints. These have small scarred leaves on their surface. The joints are 8-15 cm long. It is covered with single or double yellow spines. These can be 2.5 cm long. The flowers are yellow and 60-70 mm long. Flowers have several sepals, petals and stamens. (Opuntia inermis is smaller and usually without spines.) The fruit are red and 4-6 cm long.

It has become an aggressive weed in many areas of Australia and is declared noxious. There are about 250 Opuntia species.

Where it is found

A tropical and subtropical plant. It suits hardiness zones 9-12.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Australia, Brazil, Central America, Cuba, East Africa, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Europe, France, India, Madagascar, Mediterranean, Mexico, North America, Northeastern India, South Africa, Southern Africa, St Helena, Swaziland, Torres Strait, Turks & Caicos, USA, West Indies

How it is used for food

The ripe fruit are eaten. The green pads are eaten like a vegetable.

Edible parts

Fruit, leaves, stems

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Chappathikalli, Coastal prickly pear, Erect Prickly pear, Paapachi, Pak'an, Rul-pui-lei, Yaaxpakan, Yaazpakan

Synonyms

Cactus strictus Haworth; Opuntia bahamana Britton & Rose; Opuntia inermis (DC.) DC.; Opuntia keyensis Britton ex Small; Opuntia macrantha Gibbes; Opuntia magnifica Small;