Opuntia

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Prickly Pears & Chollas
Teddy-bear cholla & prickly pear
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Caryophyllales Family: Cactaceae Subfamily: Opuntioideae Tribe: Opuntieae Genus: Opuntia Mill.
Species
Some 250, see also Example species.
Synonyms
See text

Opuntia is a genus in the cactus family Cactaceae. Both prickly pears and chollas are included in this genus of about 250 species distributed throughout most of the New World. The type species of the genus is the Indian fig opuntia Opuntia ficus-indica (most culinary uses of the term 'prickly pear' are referring to that plant).

Contents 1 Description 2 Ethnomedical Uses 2.1 Diabetes 2.2 Alcohol hangover 3 Prickly pears in Europe 4 Prickly pears in Australia 5 Prickly pears in Saint Helena: "Tungi" 6 Opuntia as a host for Dactylopius coccus 7 Symbolism 8 Example species 9 Synonymy 10 References 11 Sources 12 External links

[edit] Description

Prickly pears, classified in the subgenus Opuntia, typically grow with flat, rounded segments that are armed with two kinds of spines; large, smooth, fixed spines and small, almost hairlike spines called glochids that easily penetrate skin and detach from the plant. Many types of prickly pear can grow into dense, tangled structures. Prickly pears species are found in abundance in the West and Southwest of the United States and throughout much of Mexico. Prickly pears are also the only types of cactus normally found in the eastern United States. They are the most cold-tolerant of the cacti, extending into northern Canada; one species, Opuntia fragilis var. fragilis, has been found growing along the Beatton River in the province of Alberta, southwest of Cecile Lake at 56° 17’ N latitude and 120° 39’ W longitude.

Chollas, classified in the subgenus Cylindropuntia, are distinguished by having cylindrical, not flattened, stem segments, with the large spines barbed. Some botanists treat Cylindropuntia as a distinct genus. The stem joints of several species, notably the jumping cholla (Opuntia fulgida), are very brittle on young stems, readily breaking off when the barbed spines stick to clothing or animal skin. This helps distribute the cholla because when the stem falls off the person or animal, it takes root and grows where it falls. The barbed spines often remain embedded in the skin, causing significant discomfort and sometimes injury.

The fruit of opuntias, called tuna, is edible, although it has to be peeled carefully to remove the small spines on the outer skin before consumption. It is often used to make candies and jelly. The young stem segments, called nopales, are also edible. The fruit is a favourite in Sicilian cuisine, where it is called ficcudinia which is literally translated as Indian fig.

The gel-like liquid of a prickly pear cactus can be used like a conditioner. Prickly pears also have medicinal uses.

[edit] Ethnomedical Uses

[edit] Diabetes

The stem of Opuntia spp. is used to treat type II diabetes, diarrhea, and stomach ache. However, usefulness of Opuntia (also known as Nopal or Nopalitos in Spanish) in treating diabetes is not at all clear at this time. Although some researchers have shown a glucose lowering effect of Opuntia streptacantha,^[1] another study of three other species of Opuntia (Opuntia lasiacantha, O. velutina, and O. macrocentra) showed no such effect.^[2] Another study of Opuntia megacantha raised concern about toxic effects on the kidney.^[3] It may be that certain species are effective and useful in diabetes while others are not but this needs to be clarified with further research before recommending its use. Furthermore, when buying Nopalitos in the market it is impossible to know which species one is buying and therefore whether or not it is useful in treating diabetes.

[edit] Alcohol hangover

Opuntia ficus indica may have a reducing effect on alcohol hangover by inhibiting the production of inflammatory mediators. Studies have yielded differing results, with some studies witnessing significant reductions in nausea, dry mouth, and loss of appetite as well as the risk of a severe hangover^[4] while others witnessing no compelling evidence suggesting effects on alcohol hangover.^[5]

[edit] Prickly pears in Europe

Opuntia littoralis has been introduced to Europe and flourishes in areas with a suitable climate, such as the south of France, southern Italy and Sicily where they are referd to "Fico d'India", Southern Portugal and Madeira Islands where they are called tabaibo or Indian Figs, as well as eastern Spain and Struma River in Bulgaria.

The prickly pear also grows widely on the island of Malta where it is enjoyed by the Maltese as a typical summer fruit as well as being used to make the popular liqueur known as Bajtra. The prickly pear is so commonly found in the Maltese islands that it is often used as a dividing wall between many of Malta's characteristic terraced fields in place of the usual rubble walls.

[edit] Prickly pears in Australia

Prickly pears (mostly O. stricta) were imported into Australia in the 19th century for use as a natural agricultural fence and to establish a cochineal dye industry. They quickly became a widespread weed, rendering 40,000 km² of farming land unproductive. The Cactoblastis moth, a South American moth whose larvae eat prickly pear, was introduced in 1925 and almost wiped out the infestation. This case is often cited as a "textbook" example of successful biological pest control. The same moth, introduced accidentally further north of its native range into southern North America, is causing serious damage to some native species in that area.

[edit] Prickly pears in Saint Helena: "Tungi"

Tungi is the local St Helenian name for the prickly or cactus pears. The plants (Opuntia vulgaris) were originally brought to the island by the colonial ivory traders from East Africa in the 1850's. Tungi cactus now grows wild and organically in the dry coastal regions of the island.

Three principal varieties of tungi grow on the island: the 'English' (or yellow) fruit; the 'Maderia' (or large red) fruit; and the small 'Spiny Red'.

Tungi is locally distilled to produce Tungi Spirit.

[edit] Opuntia as a host for Dactylopius coccus

These scale insects (the females) are used in the production of cochineal or carmine dye.

[edit] Symbolism

In Israel, it is called tzabar (Hebrew: צבר) and its fruit gives name to the Sabras, the native-born Israeli Jews.^[6]. As the fruit, the Sabras are said to be tough on the outside, sweet and tender on the inside.

[edit] Example species

• Subgenus Opuntia, true prickly pears. Often difficult to identify due to hybridization.
  • Opuntia basilaris - Beavertail cactus; found in southwest U.S. and northwest Mexico.
  • Opuntia chlorotica - Pancake prickly pear; native to southwest U.S. and the Sonoran and Mojave deserts.
  • Opuntia dillenii - Erect prickly pear.
  • Opuntia decumbens - Nopal de Culebra.
  • Opuntia echios var. gigantea - Galápagos prickly pear; Galápagos Islands.
  • Opuntia engelmannii - Engelmann's pear (also called calico cactus, Engelmann prickly pear). The tunas, their fruit, are a major food in Mexico.
  • Opuntia erinacea - Grizzly bear opuntia.
  • Opuntia ficus-indica - Indian fig opuntia; species known only from cultivation, originally in south-central Mexico; cultivated in warm parts of the world for its edible fruit.
  • Opuntia fragilis - Little prickly pear, brittle cactus; found in the northern Great Plains and as far west as British Columbia, also found in the southern Great Plains
  • Opuntia humifusa (syn. Opuntia compressa var. humifusa) - Eastern prickly pear; found throughout the U.S. east of the Great Plains and into southern Ontario
  • Opuntia inamoema - quipá.^{[verification needed]}
  • Opuntia leucotricha - Arborescent prickly pear (other common names: Aaron’s beard cactus, semaphore cactus, Duraznillo blanco, Nopal blanco); a tree-like cactus, growing up to 5 m tall, occurring in the mountains of central Mexico.
  • Opuntia lindheimeri - Texas prickly pear.
  • Opuntia littoralis - Sprawling prickly pear.
  • Opuntia macrocentra - Black spine prickly pear or purple prickly pear; found in southwest U.S. and northern Mexico.
  • Opuntia macrorhiza - Plains prickly pear; found throughout the Great Plains except for the northernmost areas (not found in North Dakota), and extending sporadically eastward as far as Kentucky.
  • Opuntia microdasys - Bunny ears; found in the Mexican state of Hidalgo.
  • Opuntia monacantha - Common prickly pear.
  • Opuntia phaeacantha - New Mexico prickly pear.
  • Opuntia pinkavae - Pinkava's prickly pear.
  • Opuntia polyacantha - Plains prickly pear.
  • Opuntia pusilla - Creeping cactus.
  • Opuntia santa-rita - Santa Rita prickly pear; found in Texas, Arizona and northern Mexico.
  • Opuntia stricta - Spineless prickly pear, coastal prickly pear.
  • Opuntia tehuantepecana - Nopal de Caballo.
  • Opuntia tomentosa - Woollyjoint prickly pear.^{[verification needed]}

• Subgenus Cylindropuntia, chollas.
  • Opuntia acanthocarpa - buckhorn cholla
  • Opuntia arbuscula - pencil cholla
  • Opuntia bigelovii - teddy-bear cholla
  • Opuntia echinocarpa - silver cholla
  • Opuntia fulgida - jumping cholla or hanging chain cholla
  • Opuntia imbricata - cane cholla, tree cholla
  • Opuntia leptocaulis - desert Christmas cactus, tasajillo
  • Opuntia ramosissima - diamond cholla
  • Opuntia spinosior - Tasajo cholla
  • Opuntia stanlyi - devil cholla
  • Opuntia versicolor - staghorn cholla
  • Opuntia whipplei - rat-tail cholla

[edit] Synonymy

The following genera are included in the genus Opuntia:

• Airampoa Fric
• Cactodendron Bigelow, nom. inval.
• Cactus Lem.
• Chaffeyopuntia Fric & Schelle
• Clavarioidia Kreuz. (nom. inval.)
• Corynopuntia F.M.Knuth
• Ficindica St.-Lag.
• Marenopuntia Backeb.
• Micropuntia Daston
• Nopalea Salm-Dyck
• Parviopuntia Soulaire & Marn.-Lap. (nom. inval.)
• Phyllarthus Neck. ex M.Gómez (nom. inval.)
• Pseudotephrocactus Fric
• Salmiopuntia Fric (nom. inval.)
• Subulatopuntia Fric & Schelle
• Tunas Lunell
• Weberiopuntia Fric

[edit] References

[edit] Sources

W.P. Fraser Herbarium from Cota-Sanchez, H. 2002. Taxonomy, distribution, rarity status and uses of Canadian Cacti. Haseltonia 9: 17-25. Retrieved January 10, 2006. Establishes the northernmost range of Opuntia.

[edit] External links

• Prickly Pear Cactus in the North American desert.
• Opuntiads of the USA Exploration of the Prickly Pears
• Photo of an opuntia bergeriana
• Yellow cactus flowers, El Limón Totalco - Opuntia species, Mexico.
• Prickly Pear Cactus Sorbet illustrated step-by-step recipe in English