Indian fig, Cactus apple
Opuntia engelmannii

Family: Cactaceae

What it is like

A cactus. It varies a lot. It is bluish-green. It can be 1.5 m high. The joints are broadly oval and 20-30 cm long. The spine spots have a brownish woolly growth and brown bristles. There are one to several spines. They are up to 2 cm long. The flowers are yellow. They are 5 cm across.

There are about 250 Opuntia species.

Where it is found

It is a subtropical plant. It grows in gravel and sandy flats between 300-1,800 m above sea level. It needs full sun. It needs a temperature above 10°C.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Mexico (country/location of origin), Indonesia, Mexico, North America, SE Asia, USA (country/location of origin)

How it is used for food

The fruit are eaten fresh. They are rolled on the ground to remove the spines. They are also split, dried and mixed with cornmeal for a porridge. The fruit can also be used for drinks and syrup. The tender leaves are sliced and cooked and eaten with other foods like beans.

Edible parts

Fruit, leaves, seeds

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seeds or cuttings.

Its other names

Local names

Arrastradillo, Cow's tongue cactus, Cow tongue prickly pear, Desert prickly pear, Discus prickly pear, Engelmann's prickly pear, Few-spined marble-fruited prickly pear, Kaktus pir teksas, Nopal cuijo, Texas prickly pear, Tuna

Synonyms

Opuntia microcarpa Engel.; Opuntia lindheimeri Engel.; Opuntia engelmannii var. lindheimeri (Engel.) B.D. Parfitt & Pinkava; Opuntia cantabrigiensis Lynch; Opuntia engelmanii var. cuija Griffiths & Hare; Opuntia cuija (Griffiths) C.Z. Nelson; Opuntia phaeacantha var. discata (Griffiths) L.D. Benson & Walkington; Opuntia linguiformis Griffith; Opuntia engelmannii var. linguiformis (Griffiths) B.D. Parfitt & Pinkava; Opuntia dillei Griffiths; Opuntia submarta Griffiths; Opuntia tricolor Griffiths; Opuntia tardospina Griffiths; Opuntia flexospina Griffiths; Opuntia engelmannii var. flexospina (Griffiths) B.D. Parfitt & Pinkava; Opuntia phaeacantha var. flavispina L.D. Benson; Opuntia engelmannii var. flavispina (L.D.Benson) B.D. Parfitt & Pinkava;