Opuntia
Desert Succulent
Cacti are a succulent usually confined to the desert but the Opuntia is being used in Xeriscape Gardening.
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| Cactus Opuntia |
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| Cactus Opuntia Flower Buds |
This low growing Opuntia has flattened stems called paddles that contain barbed bristles. In May the mature cactus produces yellow, waxy flowers. When the flowers die away a red juicy edible fruit, called a tuna, is produced. I have made jelly from the fruit.
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| Cactus Opuntia Flowers |
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| The flowers of prickly pear are yellow and sometimes pink. |
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| The flowers of prickly pear are yellow and sometimes pink. |
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| The flowers of prickly pear are yellow and sometimes pink. |
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| The flat pads are covered in glochids, clusters of tiny, fine, wooly, or barbed spines. |
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| The new pads emerging on the spineless prickly pear cactus |
Suggested Additional Resource:
Opuntia and Cochineal Red Dye____________________________________
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| Scale insects on leaves, or paddles, of cactus produce a red acidic substance |
The cochineal is a scale insect, from which the natural dye carmine is derived. This insect lives on cacti in the genus Opuntia, feeding on plant moisture and nutrients. These insects are found on the pads of prickly pear cacti, then are brushed off and dried. The insect produces carminic acid that deters predation by other insects. Carminic acid, typically 17-24% of dried insects' weight, can be extracted from the body and eggs, then mixed with aluminium or calcium salts to make carmine dye, also known as cochineal. The carmine dye was used in Central America in the 15th century for coloring fabrics and became an important export good. This dye has been an important economic commodity and has created fascinating mysteries and intrigues.
Visit the website of professional botanists, on the study of Opuntia, at https://www.opuntiads.com/.
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