Opuntia ficus-indica latin
Barbary fig
cactus pear

The plant now known as Opuntia ficus-indica, or the Indian fig cactus, has long been an important source of food.

The most commercially valuable use for Opuntia ficus-indica today is for the large, sweet fruits, called tunas.

The larvae feed on Opuntia ficus-indica.

The fruit of Opuntia ficus-indica can cause constipation if consumed with the seeds, without the seeds it is laxative.

Nopal (Opuntia ficus-indica)

Opuntia ficus-indica (Anerican Journal of Clinical Nutrition)

Tungi: (in Saint Helena) a local name for the prickly or cactus pear, Opuntia ficus-indica.

The name Opuntia vulgaris, which is a synonym of Opuntia ficus-indica, has been misapplied to this species in Australia.

The cactus (Opuntia ficus-indica; Nahuatl: tenochtli), full of fruits, is the symbol for the island of Tenochtitlan.

The roads are also lined with local cactus trees (Opuntia ficus-indica) bearing very flavoury Indian figs; these are best eaten when ripe after the rain.

Opuntia ficus-indica is a species of cactus that has long been a domesticated crop plant important in agricultural economies throughout arid and semiarid parts of the world.

Farmed nopales are most often of the species Opuntia ficus-indica, although the pads of almost all Opuntia species are edible.

There are 200 species of Opuntia cacti, and while it is possible to cultivate cochineal on almost all of them, the best to use is Opuntia ficus-indica.

Palevitch D, Earon G, Levin I. Treatment of benign prostatic hypertrophy with Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Miller.

Bajtra is a liqueur from Malta which is made from the prickly pear (Opuntia ficus-indica) that originated in the Americas and was introduced to the Maltese islands.

In contrast to the common fruit (tunas) from related Opuntia ficus-indica, it is less sweet, the color is a bland greenish, and it is more used for traditional medicine than cuisine.

Supplementation with cactus pear (Opuntia ficus-indica) fruit decreases oxidative stress in healthy humans: a comparative study with vitamin C. Am J Clin Nutr 2004;80:391-5.

It also produces and exports Tungi Spirit, made from the fruit of the prickly or cactus pears, Opuntia ficus-indica ("Tungi" is the local St Helenian name for the plant).

Opuntia ficus-indica (as well as other species in Opuntia and Nopalea) is cultivated in nopalries to serve as a host plant for cochineal insects, which produce desirable red and purple dyes.

The most famous are mangos,avocados,nispola and chirimoya but it is also possible to find papaya,guava,litchees,kiwi,figs and opuntia ficus-indica which can be also find as ice cream or jams in several coffee shops.

Desert Garden - examples are South African Euphorbia 'Sticks on Fire' and cactusprevalent in Mexico such as cholla, pipe organ (Pachycereus marginatus), beavertail (Opuntia ficus-indica), and Agave salmiana.