 Prickly Pear Cactus, Madison Pasterchick |
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| Common Name(s) | Prickly Pear Cactus | ||||
| Scientific Name | Opuntia Polyachantha | ||||
| Family | Opuntia | ||||
| Location/Vegetative Zone | Thicket/Secondary Dune | ||||
| Flowering Period | Late spring to early summer | ||||
| Identifying Characteristics | Have red, yellow, or purple flowers, and small barbed spines. | ||||
Description
- Most have red, yellow, or purple flowers
- Grow from less than a foot to 6-7 feet
- All have fleshy pads
- Have small, barbed spines known as glochids
- Native plant
Medicinal/Edible Uses
- Branches can be cooked and eaten as a vegetable
- Pectin in plants can reduce LDL (bad) cholesterol
Cultural Uses
- Provides protective barrier against predators
- Juice extracted from pads is used to make mosquito repellents
Misc
- Medical community interested in pectin
- More than 15 different types of varieties
Sources
Osterbrink, Sara. “Eastern Prickly Pear Cactus”. University of Wisconsin La Crosse. Arcsin. Web.
“Prickly Pear Cactus.” Gale Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine. . Encyclopedia.com. 30 Apr. 2018. Web.
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