White-spined Prickly Pear, Cardona-pear
Opuntia streptacantha

Family: Cactaceae

What it is like

A cactus. It is shrubby or treelike. It grows to 2-4 m tall. The main stem is 80 cm tall and 30-40 cm wide. The pads are spiny and round. They can be 30 cm across. The flowers are yellow or orange. They are 6-7 cm long. The fruit are round and yellow to red. They are edible.

There are about 250 Opuntia species. It has hyperglycemic action.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Australia, Central America, Mexico (country/location of origin), North America, South Africa, Southern AfricA, USA

How it is used for food

The fruit are eaten raw and used in the preparation of sweetmeats. They are also used to make a sweet alcoholic drink. Caution: Alcohol is a cause of cancer. The pulp of the fruit is boiled down to make thick brown cakes. Whole fruit are strung on strings to dry and they become coated with a sweet sticky juice. The pads are eaten after the spines are removed. The are sliced or diced and used as a vegetable.

The fruit are common in markets in Mexico. It is cultivated.

Edible parts

Fruit, pads

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Cardon, Cenizo, Chaveno, Gracemere-pear, Nopal cardon, Nopal harton, Tuna cardona, Westwood-pear

Synonyms

Opuntia cardona F. A. C. Weber; Opuntia pachona Griffiths; Tuna cordona;