Prickly Pear Cactus: Flowers And Cacti Plants

With over 3000 identified types of cacti on record, the prickly pear cactus is the most diverse with its unique features, tasty food creations, and possible medical benefits. The prickly pear cactus comes in more than 15 varieties and can be found in the Chichuahuan, Great Basin, Mohave and Sonoran deserts in the United States. As members of the Opuntia Genus or Family Cactacea, these plants have four distinct defining features: pads, glochids, spines and flowers.

According to Desert USA, the pads are stems that serve several functions. The pads provide water storage, photosynthesis and flower production. Leaves growing from the stem, also known as spines, are the second feature unique to the prickly pear cactus. The third mark of the cactus are the glochids. These groups of red or yellow fine, spiked, spines that rest above the regular spine are easily removed from the pads. The flowers of the prickly pear cactus add character that cannot be found in other varieties.

Many of the prickly pear cactus have yellow, red or purple flowers; with yellow being the main color of many of the flowers. Some cactus flowers bloom yellow in color and turn to orange or peach with age. A few of the yellow cacti plants have red bases or red centers. Cream, bright orange and reddish orange are rare colors that grace the cactus flowers of just few prickly pear cactus. The flowers on the prickly pear cactus can measure from less than a foot to up to seven feet in height. While some cactus plants are missing spines, glochids can be found on all of the prickly pear cactus plants.

In addition to the external characteristics that uniquely define prickly pear cactus, numerous food creations and medical benefits have been found. Fruits, vegetables and juice can be extracted from several varieties of cacti to provide nutritional and tasty food for individuals. Fruits, commonly known as tuna or cactus apple at grocery retailers, can be enjoyed in the natural state or turned into beverages. Candies and jelly are also made from fruits. Glochids have to be removed prior to preparation for a full appreciation of fruit. The pads or Nopalito are served chopped and prepared as vegetables such as green beans. The juice and pulp of the prickly pear cactus are used to make prickly pear nectar.

There are many medical benefits discovered as a result of the consumption of parts of the prickly pear cactus. One of these is the decline in clogged arteries, while providing protection against heart attack. This preventions comes from the pectin of the pulp of the prickly pear cactus. Another benefit is the decrease in the need for insulin for diabetics with the fibrous pectin found in the prickly pear cactus. Also, by consuming the fruits and vegetables of these cacti, blood sugar levels can be stabilized.

The prickly pear cactus is a unique member of the cactus plant family. The brightly-colored flowers, the fruits and vegetables, and the various medical benefits make the prickly pear cactus a one-of-a-kind cactus plant.


Sources:
"Cactus." Wikipedia. 25 Aug. 2007. 26 Aug. 2007. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cactus.

"Prickly Pear Cactus." Desert USA. 2007. 26 Aug. 2007. http://www.desertusa.com/magoct97/oct_pa/du_prkpea r.html.

"Edible Stems & Fruits of the Cactaceae: Nopales & Tunas of the Indian Fig (Opuntia ficus-indica)." Wayne's Word. 2007. 26 Aug. 2007. http://waynesword.palomar.edu/ecoph19.htm.