Drooping prickly pear
Opuntia monacantha

Family: Cactaceae

What it is like

A cactus. It is a spiny leafless shrub. It grows 1-3 m tall. It is treelike with several branches. The stems are succulent. There are oblong jointed segments. These are covered with needle-like spines. They are shiny green. They are about 10-30 cm long. The flowers occur singly at the base of the spines near the end of the plant. The flowers are golden yellow. The stamen filaments are green. The fruit are reddish-purple. They are pear shaped and 7 cm long.

There are about 250 Opuntia species.

Where it is found

It is a tropical and subtropical plant. It is native to Brazil. In Nepal it grows to about 1400 m altitude. It grows in open, dry places. It can grow in arid places. In Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, America, Argentina, Asia, Australia, Brazil (country/location of origin), China, Cuba, East Africa, Eswatini, Europe, France, Gibraltar, Hawaii, Himalayas, India, Indonesia, Italy, Kenya, Mauritius, Mediterranean, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, Nigeria, Northeastern India, Pacific, Pakistan, Paraguay, Philippines, Portugal, SE Asia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Southern Africa, South America, Spain, Sri Lanka, Swaziland, Taiwan, Tanzania, Tibet, Uganda, Uruguay, USA, West Africa, West Indies

How it is used for food

The ripe fruit are eaten fresh. They are also stewed or used in preserves. The stems are used as a vegetable. The flowers are cooked and eaten.

The fruit are reasonably commonly eaten in Yunnan in China.

Edible parts

Fruit, stems, flowers, cladodes

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seeds or cuttings. Plants are grown by splitting the jointed stems.

Its other names

Local names

Arumbeva, Barbery fig, Cochineal prickly pear, Kaktus pir mona, Kalli, Monducuru, Nagphani kanda, Palmatoria, Urumbeba, Xianrenguo, Zugum

Synonyms

Cactus monacantha Willdenow; Cactus urumbeba Vell.; Opuntia urumbeba (Vell.) Steud.; Opuntia arechavaletae Spegazzini; Opuntia vulgaris of authors but not Miller; Platyopuntia brunneogemmia F. Ritter; Opuntia brunneogemmia (F. Ritter) Schlindwein; Opuntia monacantha subsp. brunneogemmia (F. Ritter) P.J. Braun & Esteves;