Scientific Name | Opuntia Polyacantha |
Common Names | Prickly Pear Cactus |
Nativity | Native; Generally found in the Thicket and Secondary Dune |
Medicinal or Edible Section | Yes |
Medicinal and Edible Uses | Branches can be cooked and eaten as a vegetable |
Used to treat | Pectin in plants can reduce LDL (bad) cholesterol |
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
Misc
- Medical community interested in pectin
- More than 15 different types of varieties
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