Knowra Opuntia Opuntia Opuntia is a genus of cacti native to the Americas, characterized by jointed stem segments called cladodes and, in many species, edible prickly fruits.
Cladode : A flattened or cylindrical stem segment that performs photosynthesis and may store water. Opuntia’s conspicuous pads are cladodes, not leaves.
Nopal : The edible young pads of prickly pear cacti, used as a vegetable in Mexican cuisine. Nopal is harvested from Opuntia cladodes, especially those of cultivated species.
Opuntia ficus-indica : A large cultivated prickly pear cactus native to Mexico and grown widely for its pads and fruit. This species is the most widely cultivated Opuntia for food and forage.
Cactaceae : The flowering-plant family comprising cacti, native primarily to the Americas. Opuntia belongs to Cactaceae, alongside columnar, barrel, and other cacti.
Biological control : The management of pests or invasive species using their natural enemies. The moth Cactoblastis cactorum is a celebrated biological-control agent against invasive Opuntia.
Areole : A small specialized structure on a cactus that bears spines, hairs, flowers, or new shoots. Opuntia spines and flowers emerge from areoles on its stem segments.
Prickly pear fruit : The edible fruit of an Opuntia cactus, also called a tuna in Spanish. Opuntia fruits are eaten fresh and used in drinks, preserves, and other foods.
Opuntia humifusa : A low-growing prickly pear cactus native to eastern North America. Its cold tolerance makes it a distinctive temperate example of the genus.
Prickly pear : A common name for Opuntia cacti and their edible fruits. The everyday name often applies both to the genus and to its fruit.
Invasive species : A non-native organism that spreads and causes ecological, economic, or other harm. Several introduced Opuntia species have become invasive outside the Americas.
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