Tuna
Opuntia tuna

Family: Cactaceae

What it is like

A cactus. It is spiny and shrubby. It grows about 1 m tall.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in rocky and sandy places. It grows up to 120 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Central America, Dominican Republic, East Africa, Ecuador, Ghana, Jamaica, Mozambique, Senegal, South America, West Africa, West Indies

How it is used for food

The fruit are eaten raw. They are also used for pies and jellies and to flavour other sweets. The half ripe fruit are dried and have the flavour of apples. The tender pads are boiled and used as a vegetable. They are used in soups, stews and omelettes.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Higuera chumba, Higuera del diablo, Nopal, Panini, Xihaha

Synonyms

Cactus bonplandii Kunth; Cactus horridus Salisb.; Cactus humilis Haw. Cactus tuna L.; Opuntia bonplandii (Kunth) F. A. C. Weber; and others