Prickly Pear, Brittle pricklypear

Opuntia fragilis

Physical Characteristics

Opuntia fragilis is an evergreen Perennial growing to 0.1 m (0ft 4in) by 0.3 m (1ft). See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 8 and is not frost tender. It is in leaf all year, in flower from June to September. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Insects. Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry soil and can tolerate drought.

Distribution

N. America - Iowa, Wisconsin and Minnesota to South Dakota, British Columbia, Kansas and Utah.

Habitats

Cultivated Beds; East Wall. By. South Wall. By.

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Fruit Leaves Seed Edible Uses: Gum Leaf pads - cooked or raw[62, 160]. The outer skin is peeled off before eating the pads[257]. Watery and very mucilaginous[85]. The following notes are for O. compressa. They almost certainly also apply to this species[K]. Fruit - raw, cooked or dried for later use[3, 46, 61, 62, 183]. Sweet and gelatinous[85]. Lean and insipid[95]. The unripe fruits can be added to soups etc, imparting an okra-like mucilaginous quality[183]. The fruit can hang on the plant all year round[160]. Be careful of the plants irritant hairs, see the notes above on toxicity. The fruit of O. fragilis is about 12 x 12 mm[200]. Seed - briefly roasted then ground into a powder[62]. It is also used as a thickener[62].

Medicinal Uses

The flesh of the leaf pads is diuretic[257]. A poultice of the flesh has been used to treat skin sores and infections[257].

Known Hazards

The plant has numerous minutely barbed glochids (hairs) that are easily dislodged when the plant is touched and they then become stuck to the skin where they are difficult to see and remove. They can cause considerable discomfort[200].