Prickly pear

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For the Canadian fanzine, see Opuntia (fanzine).
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Prickly pears
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Opuntia littoralis var. vaseyi
Opuntia littoralis var. vaseyi
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Kingdom: Plantae
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Division: Magnoliophyta
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Class: Magnoliopsida
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Order: Caryophyllales
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Family: Cactaceae
Subfamily: Opuntioideae
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Tribe: Opuntieae
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Genus: Opuntia
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Species
Many, see text.
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Synonyms
*Airampoa Fric

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Opuntia is a genus in the cactus family, Cactaceae.

Currently, only prickly pears (also known as nopal or nopales; see below) are included in this genus of about 250Template:Verify source species distributed throughout most of the Americas. Chollas are now separated in the genus Cylindropuntia, which some still consider a subgenus of Opuntia. Austrocylindropuntia, Corynopuntia and Micropuntia are also often included in the present genus, but like Cylindropuntia they seem rather well distinct. Brasiliopuntia and Miqueliopuntia are closer relatives of Opuntia.

The most commonly culinary species is the Indian Fig Opuntia (O. ficus-indica). Most culinary uses of the term 'prickly pear' refer to this species.

Contents

Description

Typical habitus of an Opuntia with fruit

Prickly pear cacti typically grow with flat, rounded platyclades that are armed with two kinds of spines; large, smooth, fixed spines and small, hairlike spines called glochids that easily penetrate skin and detach from the plant. Many types of prickly pears grow into dense, tangled structures.

Prickly pear species are found in abundance in the West and Southwest of the United States and throughout much of Mexico. Prickly pears are also the only types of cactus natively found to grow in the eastern United States. Opuntia are the most cold-tolerant of the lowland cacti, extending into northern Canada; one subspecies, Opuntia fragilis var. fragilis, has been found growing along the Beatton River in the province of British Columbia, southwest of Cecil Lake at 56° 17’ N latitude and 120° 39’ W longitude.[1]

Charles Darwin was the first to note that these cacti have thigmotactic anthers. This means that as its anthers are touched they curl over, depositing their pollen. This movement can be seen by gently poking the anthers of an open Opuntia flower. The same trait has evolved convergently in other cacti (e.g. Lophophora).

Chollas

Main article: Cylindropuntia

Chollas, now recognized to belong into a rather distinct genus Cylindropuntia, are distinguished by having cylindrical, rather than flattened, stem segments with the large barbed spines. The stem joints of several species, notably the jumping cholla (Cylindropuntia fulgida), are very brittle on young stems, readily breaking off when the barbed spines stick to clothing or animal skin as a method of seed distribution. The barbed spines can remain embedded in the skin, causing significant discomfort and sometimes injury.

Opuntia and humans

Prickly pear fruit for sale at a market, Zacatecas, Mexico

As food

The fruit of prickly pears, commonly called cactus figs, Indian[2] fig or tunaTemplate:Verify source, is edible, although it has to be peeled carefully to remove the small spines on the outer skin before consumption. If the outer layer is not properly removed, glochids can be ingested causing discomfort of the throat, lips, and tongue as the small spines are easily lodged the skin. Native Americans like the Tequesta would roll the fruit around in suitable medium (e.g. grit) to "sand" off the glochids. Today, parthenocarpic (seedless) cultivars are also available.

Opuntia littoralis on the Côte d'Azur, France.

Cactus figs are often used to make candies and jelly and a refreshing drink. The fruit is a favourite in Sicilian cuisine, where it is called ficurinnia[3].

Opuntia littoralis has been introduced to Europe and flourishes in areas with a suitable climate, such as the south of France, southern Italy, Sicily where they are referred to as fico d'India[3], along the Struma River in Bulgaria, in Southern Portugal and Madeira where they are called tabaibo or "Indian figs", and eastern and southern Spain as well as Gibraltar where they are known as chumbo or higo chumbo ("chumbo fig").

The prickly pear also grows widely on the islands of Malta where it is enjoyed by the Maltese as a typical summer fruit and called bajtra. The prickly pear is so commonly found in the Maltese islands that it is often used as a dividing wall between many of Malta's characteristic terraced fields in place of the usual rubble walls.

Tungi is the local St. Helenian name for cactus pears. The plants (Indian Fig Opuntia) were originally brought to the island by the colonial ivory traders from East Africa in the 1850s. Tungi cactus now grows wild and organically in the dry coastal regions of the island. Three principal cultivars of tungi grow on the island: the 'English' with yellow fruit; the 'Maderia' with large red fruit; and the small firm 'Spiny Red'.

The young stem segments, usually called nopales, are also edible in most species of Opuntia. They are commonly used in Mexican cuisine in dishes such as huevos con nopales (eggs with nopal), or tacos de nopales. Nopales are also an important ingredient in New Mexican cuisine.

Medical uses

High resolution image of prickly pear fruit. Note the fine spines that readily dislodge.

Most species of Opuntia contain a range of alkaloids in ample quantities, notably substituted phenethylamines. While the mere presence of such compounds has been confirmed in many species without further details[4], they have been studied more thoroughly in others. Identified compounds of medical significance include 3-methoxytyramine[5], candicine[6], hordenine[7], N-methyltyramine[8] and tyramine[8].

The stem of certain Opuntia spp. can be used to treat type II diabetes, diarrhea, and stomach ache. However, usefulness of Opuntia in treating diabetes is not at all resolved. Although some researchers have shown a blood glucose-lowering effect of O. streptacantha[9], another study of three other species of Opuntia (O. lasiacantha, O. velutina, and O. macrocentra) showed no such effect[10]. Yet another study, on O. megacantha, raised concern about toxic effects on the kidney[11].

It may be that certain species are effective and useful in diabetes while others are not but this needs to be clarified with further research before recommending its use. Furthermore, when buying nopal in the market, it is impossible to know which species one is buying and therefore whether or not it is useful in treating diabetes.

Indian Fig Opuntia (and probably others) might have a reducing effect on alcohol hangover by inhibiting the production of inflammatory mediators. Studies have yielded differing results, with some studies witnessing significant reductions in nausea, dry mouth, and loss of appetite as well as less risk of a severe hangover[12], while others witnessing no compelling evidence for effects on alcohol hangover[13].

The gel-like sap of prickly pears can be used as hair conditioner.[citation needed]

As an intoxicant

At least two commercially important distilled spirits are produced from Opuntia fruit. On Malta, the pink herbal Bajtra Liqueur is made from O. littoralisTemplate:Verify source. A St. Helenian distillery produces the clear, more potent Tungi Spirit from Indian Fig Opuntia cv. 'English' and 'Madeira'.

Opuntia is also added sometimes to the entheogenic drink Ayahuasca[14]. Psychoactive compounds and derivates thereof have been confirmed in some species. These include 3,4-DMPEA[15], 4-hydroxy-3,5-DMPEA[16], and mescaline[17].

Traditional "Zapotec nest" farming of the cochineal scale insect on O. ficus-indica, Oaxaca

In dye production

Main article: Cochineal

Dactylopius coccus is a scale insect, from which the cochineal dye is derived. D. coccus itself is native to tropical and subtropical South America and Mexico. This type of insect, a primarily sessile parasite, lives on cacti from the genus Opuntia, feeding on moisture and nutrients in the cactus sap. The insect produces carminic acid which deters predation by other insects. The carminic acid can be extracted from the insect's body and eggs to make the red dye.

Cochineal is primarily used as a red food colouring and for cosmetics. The cochineal dye was used by the Aztec and Maya peoples of Central and North America. Produced almost exclusively in Oaxaca, Mexico by indigenous producers, cochineal became Mexico's second most valued export after silver.[18] The dyestuff was consumed throughout Europe and was so highly valued that its price was regularly quoted on the London and Amsterdam Commodity Exchanges.

In present times, the highest production of cochineal is by Peru, the Canary Islands and Chile. Current health concerns over artificial food additives have renewed the popularity of cochineal dyes, and the increased demand is making cultivation of the insect an attractive opportunity in other regions, such as in Mexico where cochineal production had declined again due to the scale insect having numerous natural enemies.[19]

Apart from cochineal, the red dye betanin can be extracted from some Opuntia plants themselves.

The Coat of arms of Mexico.

In culture

Main article: Coat of arms of Mexico

The coat of arms of Mexico depicts a Mexican golden eagle, perched upon an Opuntia cactus, devouring a snake. According to the official history of México, the coat of arms is inspired by an Aztec legend regarding the founding of Tenochtitlan. The Aztecs, then a nomadic tribe, were wandering throughout Mexico in search of a divine sign that would indicate the precise spot upon which they were to build their capital. Their god Huitzilopochtli had commanded them to find an eagle devouring a snake, perched atop a cactus that grew on a rock submerged in a lake. After two hundred years of wandering, they found the promised sign on a small island in the swampy Lake Texcoco. It was there they founded their new capital, Tenochtitlan. The cactus (Opuntia ficus-indica; Nahuatl: tenochtli), full of fruits, is the symbol for the island of Tenochtitlan.

The 1975-1988 version of the coat of arms of Malta also featured an opuntia.

In Israel, the cactus fig is called tzabar (Hebrew: צבר). This the origin of the slang term sabra for a native-born Israeli Jew[20].

Ecology

Prickly pears (mostly Opuntia stricta) were imported into Australia in the 19th century for use as a natural agricultural fence and in an attempt to establish a cochineal dye industry. They quickly became a widespread invasive weed, rendering 40,000 km² of farming land unproductive. The moth Cactoblastis cactorum from South America, whose larvae eat prickly pear, was introduced in 1925 and almost wiped out the population. This case is often cited[citation needed] as a textbook example of successful biological pest control.

The same moth, introduced accidentally further north of its native range into southern North America, is causing serious damage to some native species in that area.

Other animals that eat Opuntia include the Prickly pear island snail and Cyclura rock iguanas. The fruit are relished by many aridland animals, chiefly birds, which thus help distribute the seeds. Opuntia pathogens include the sac fungus Colletotrichum coccodes and Sammons' Opuntia virus. The ant Crematogaster opuntiae and the spider Theridion opuntia are named for their association with prickly pear cacti.

Selected species

Species of Opuntia are often difficult to identify due to hybridization. Also, not all species listed here may actually belong into this genus.

Opuntia cochenillifera
Little Prickly Pear
Opuntia fragilis
Opuntia oricola
Opuntia ovata
Pinkava's Prickly Pear (Opuntia pinkavae), named in honor of Donald John Pinkava
Panhandle Prickly Pear
Opuntia polycantha
Opuntia robusta flowers
Opuntia stenopetala
An Opuntia in front of a Jumping Cholla (Cylindropuntia fulgida)

Formerly in Opuntia

Footnotes

Template:Reflist

References

  1. redirect Template:Smallcaps (1995): The bug that changed history. Boatman's Quarterly Rreview 8(2). HTML fulltext
  1. redirect Template:Smallcaps (2000): Effects of Opuntia megacantha on blood glucose and kidney function in streptozotocin diabetic rats. Journal of Ethnopharmacology 69(3): 247-252. Template:Doi PMID 10722207 (HTML abstract)
  1. redirect Template:Smallcaps (2002): Taxonomy, distribution, rarity status and uses of Canadian Cacti. Haseltonia 9: 17-25Template:Verify source PDF abstract
  1. redirect Template:Smallcaps (1983): Effects of nopal (Opuntia sp.) on serum lipids, glycemia and body weight. Archivos de investigacion medica 14(2): 117-125. PMID 6314922 [Article in English, Spanish]
  1. redirect Template:Smallcaps (1995): Ayahuasca Additive Plants. In: Ayahuasca Analogues: Pangaean Entheogens.
  1. redirect Template:Smallcaps (2005): Interventions for preventing or treating alcohol hangover: systematic review of randomised controlled trials. Brit. Med. J. 331(7531): 1515-1518. Template:Doi PMID 16373736 PDF fulltext
  1. redirect Template:Smallcaps (1988): Natural Enemies of Cochineal (Dactylopius coccus Costa): Importance in Mexico. Journal of the Professional Association for Cactus Development 3: 43-49. PDF fulltext
  1. redirect Template:Smallcaps (1998): Glycemic Effects of Various Species of Nopal (Opuntia sp.) in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. Texas Journal of Rural Health 16(1): 68-76.
  1. redirect Template:Smallcaps (1997): Visionary Cactus Guide: Opunita [sic]. Retrieved 2007-OCT-15.
  1. redirect Template:Smallcaps (2004): Effect of Opuntia ficus indica [sic] on Symptoms of the Alcohol Hangover. Arch. Intern. Med. 164(12): 1334-1340. PDF fulltext

External links

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