Description

There are many adaptations that the pancake prickly pear cactus has to the Sonoran Desert. Cacti have reduced their leaves to spines to reduce water loss and to protect the cactus. The roots of the prickly pear cactus are also made for very dry environment to help adapt to the deserts hot weather.

A cactus has special adaptations in its roots, leaves as well as stems that enable it to thrive in desert environments. These adaptations include – spines, shallow roots, deep-layer stomata, thick and expandable stem, waxy skin and a short growing season.

• Perennial, leafless, succulent shrub, usually 50–100cm tall.
• Stems are spiny, flattened, leafless, divided into segments (pads or joints).
• Skin is thick, tough, drought-resistant.
• Fruit is pear-shaped, bristly, varies from red to purple, orange, yellow and green.

A clump of prickly pear cactus is like a five-star restaurant to a number of small rodents that rely on it in their diets. Certain kinds of rats, mice, gophers and ground squirrels eat prickly pear (Opuntia spp.) pads, fruits and seeds, as well as find shelter and protection among the spiny, thickly growing plants.

In some cacti, shallow, extensive root systems spread laterally away from the plant (e.g. some prickly pear roots spread 10 to 15 feet away). In brief showers which only wet a few inches of soil, the shallow roots help the plant maximize water intake from a large area.

The distinctive reddish-purple juice of the cactus fruit can also be used to make drinks, candy, and. However, the plant’s growth rate is fairly slow, and it can take three to four years before a new plant starts fruiting. Prickly pear is best planted outside in the spring after the threat of frost has passed.

Prickly pears are easy to grow. They need well-drained soil and can survive on rainwater after established.

Most cactus waters are made by squeezing the juice from the bright pink fruit of the prickly pear, or nopal, cactus. For this reason, cactus water is pink rather than clear.

They’re not native to Australia, but they do thrive in our arid climate. 27 varieties are listed as prohibited invasive plants in some states, including Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria.

All cacti were banned in Queensland for many years as a result of the invasion – over vast swathes of agricultural land – of prickly pear (Opuntia species). The problem was largely alleviated by the Cactoblastis moth and Torre writes that now “only a few” varieties (predominantly invasive prickly pears) remain illegal.

The highly invasive plant was first introduced to Australia in an attempt to establish a cochineal dye industry (the cochineal insect lives on the prickly pear), and later for agricultural purposes, as fencing and drought-resistant fodder, but it quickly spread to cover some 25 million hectares in Queensland and …

Like all delicious foods, the prickly pear is best eaten in moderation. If you eat more than 2-3 (depending on your digestive system) they may leave you constipated for days… or you might have the direct opposite problem.

Nopales and prickly pear fruit are high in antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. They are a healthful addition to a balanced diet and may help decrease blood sugar, reduce inflammation, and lower cholesterol.

A study found that eating cactus can reduce body fat, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels.