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Botany

The Opuntia ficus indica belongs to the genus Opuntia, which comprises almost 300 recorded species. Many of the Opuntia species blossom during the same period of the year, allowing for a large number of hybrids to develop. Opuntia ficus-indca is polyploid, hermaphrodite and autogamous.

As the Opuntia species grow in semi-arid environments, the main limiting factor in their environment is water. Opuntia spp. have developed a number of adaptations to dry conditions, notably CAM metabolism and succulence.

The perennial shrub Opuntia ficus-indica can grow up to 3-5m height, with thick, succulent and oblong to spatulate stems called cladodes. It has a water repellent and sun reflecting waxy epidermis and thorns for leaves. Cladodes that are 1-2 years old produce flowers, the fruit’s colours ranging from pale green to deep red .

Nutritional facts

The main benefit of Opuntia ficus-indica for human and animal consumption is its large water content. In arid and semi-arid regions, it is an important water source for animals. (Mondragón-Jacobo C., Pérez-González, S., 2001) The fruit contains ca. 85% water and 10-15% carbohydrate. They are a good source for Vitamin C, containing 25-30 mg per 100g. The seeds contain 3-10% of protein and 6-13% of fatty acids, of these mainly linoleic acids. The prickly pear’s nutritive, diuretic, antispasmodic and emollient properties also make it interesting for medicinal uses.

Harvest and Preparation

As the fruits of Opuntia ficus-indica are delicate, they need to be carefully harvested by hand. The small spines on the fruits are removed by rubbing them on an abrasive surface or sweeping them through grass. Before consumption, they are peeled and sliced The pads of the plant are used as fodder. They, too, need to be harvested by hand. The pads are cut with a knife, detaching the pad from the plant in the joint. If Opuntia ficus-indica is cultivated specially for forage production, spineless cultivars are preferred. However, also wild types of the plants are used as fodder. In these cases, the spines need to be removed from the pads as to avoid damages to the animals. Mostly, this is achieved by burning the spines off the pads.

Sources

Russell, C.E., Felker, P. (1987). The Prickly-pears (Opuntia spp., Cactaceae): A Source of Human and Animal Food in Semiarid Regions. Economic Botany, 41(3), pp. 433-445.

Swart, W. (2000). Ecoport. Opuntia ficus-indica. Retrieved November 14, 2015, from http://ecoport.org/ep?Plant=8094&entityType=PLCR**&entityDisplayCategory=full

Miller, L. (2007). Ecocrop, FAO. Opuntia ficus-indica. Retrieved November 14, 2015, from http://ecocrop.fao.org/ecocrop/srv/en/cropView?id=8094

Heuzé V., Tran G. (2015). Prickly pear (Opuntia ficus-indica).Feedipedia, a programme by INRA, DIRAD, AFZ and FAO. Retrieved November 14, 2015, from http://www.feedipedia.org/node/120

Mondragón-Jacobo C., Pérez-González, S. (2001). Cactus (Opuntia spp.) as Forage. FAO Plant Production and Protection Paper 169. Retrieved November 14, 2015, from http://www.fao.org/docrep/005/y2808e/y2808e00.htm .