What is prickly pear used for?

Prickly pear cactus is also used for medicine. Prickly pear cactus is used for type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, obesity, alcohol hangover, colitis, diarrhea, and benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH). It is also used to fight viral infections. In foods, the prickly pear juice is used in jellies and candies.

How has the prickly pear evolved?

The Spread of Prickly Pear in Australia Early settlers took plants to other parts of New South Wales and Queensland because of its potential use as an alternate food source for stock, especially during dry times. It was also planted at homesteads as a hedge. The hedges flourished and bore fruit. Birds spread the seeds.

What is unique about the prickly pear cactus?

The Prickly Pear Cactus is Protected by sharp spines it is actually a tender and delicious treat. This family contains about 1,800 species most all are can be found today. The Prickly Pear Cactus can survive the freezing temperatures of the north because of special antifreeze chemicals in its cells.

Why is prickly pear illegal?

Broken segments of wild prickly pear can travel on wind and animal fur and invade any place they land. Cultivation of jointed prickly pear is outlawed in many US states, including California, Alabama, Oregon, South Carolina, and Vermont.

What are the benefits of cactus fruit?

Cactus fruit nutrients are variable, but all cactus fruits contain a variety of antioxidants known to protect cells. These antioxidants help to reduce triglycerides and bad cholesterol levels in your body. They’re also able to reduce body fat percentages and help lower your risk for metabolic syndrome.

Can you eat raw prickly pear?

Prickly pear cactus is the primary source of nopales. Nopales are eaten either raw or cooked. Once cooked, they have a slightly slimy texture much like okra, but the flavor is appealing and adds a lemony note to recipes. You can often see nopales canned in specialty stores or the Mexican section of the supermarket.

How is a prickly pear adapted to its environment?

This cactus has shallow roots that help it easily capture rainfall. Excess water is stored in the pads of the plant. These adaptations help the prickly pear survive during long periods of heat and drought. The prickly pear has large spines as well as smaller spines, called glochids, that reflect sun from its pads.

What ecosystem is the prickly pear found in?

Opuntioid cacti grow throughout a wide climatic range, from arid to warm temperate tropical areas. Species are found throughout all Australian states and territories, and are very adaptable, growing in a range of soil types and areas that receive above 150 mm of rainfall annually.

What do prickly pears taste like?

What Is Prickly Pear Fruit? Known to few, the fruit of the nopales cactus (cacti with beaver tail-like paddles), are actually quite edible. Called prickly pears, these neon fruits provide delicious juice that tastes like a cross between all-natural bubble gum (if indeed there is such a thing) and watermelon.

Are prickly pears poisonous?

Most cactus fruits are not poisonous, but some of them have a terrible taste. Cactus fruits from this species are commonly referred to as nopales, cactus pear, or simply the prickly pear. The egg-shaped fruit and even the leaves of all Opuntia species are edible and won’t cause you any problems.

Is Prickly Pear still a problem in Australia?

An ongoing problem Although not on the same scale as the 1920s crisis, prickly pear continues to be a problem in New South Wales and Queensland, where new varieties that do not act as hosts for cactoblastis moths have become established.

Is prickly pear fruit good for you?

The magnesium, potassium, and calcium in prickly pears are key nutrients for healthy blood pressure, while vitamin C plays an important role in immune system health ( 6 , 7 ). Prickly pears also contain many beneficial plant compounds, including phenolic acids, flavonoids, and pigments, which act as antioxidants.

What is prickly pear fruit good for?

Records indicate that during the “tuna harvest” in Latin America and the Southwest U.S., prickly pear was likely the most important food available in the region for many years (along with pecans and buffalo). The pods and fruit of this cactus provide important minerals like calcium, potassium and magnesium.

Why was the prickly pear introduced to Australia?

The first recorded introduction of prickly pear was attributed to Governor Phillip at Port Jackson in 1788. It is thought that the shipment comprised drooping tree pear (Opuntia monacantha) and possibly one or two other species. The reason for introducing the plant was to create a cochineal industry in the new colony.

What is the nutritional value of prickly pear cactus?

According to the USDA, 100 grams/3.5 ounces of prickly pear cactus contains about: 1. Has Anti-Inflammatory and Antioxidant Effects Research studies have found prickly pear fruit and pods are rich in flavonoids, carotenoid and polyphenol antioxidants, as well as vitamin C.

When are prickly pears in season?

While there are different varieties of I:ibhai, the most common are the hard fruits that are ripe during July and August. They are dark red and easy to peel. In the book From I’itoi’s Garden: Tohono O’odham Food Traditions, Phillip Miguel from Sells recalls the flavors of each prickly pear type: