Types of Prickly Pear Cactus | Home Guides | SF Gate Types of Prickly Pear Cactus Types of Prickly Pear Cactus Prickly pear fruits are a good source of vitamin C. The name "prickly pear" refers to the cactus species Opuntia and also to the fruits these cacti produce. They produce paddle- or cylinder-like leaves, and the fruit of many species are edible and used in making jellies, juices and candies. The pads of some species are a staple ingredient in many Mexican dishes. The plants vary in size from small groundcovers to tree-sized specimens, all bearing bright yellow to red flowers. Most are more tolerant of cool-weather conditions than other cacti genera. Indian Fig Prickly Pear The Indian fig (O. ficus-indica) is perhaps the best known and most utilized species of the prickly pears. It’s an important commercial crop for arid regions where it is grown for its large sweet fruits, sometimes called "tunas." These fruits come in yellow, red and pink, and are eaten fresh, used to make refreshing drinks, or used in jellies and candies.

The Southwest cattle industry also uses it for forage, and the pads are an important part of Mexican cuisine. Although the U.S. Department of Agriculture hardiness zones fall between 7 and 10, the Indian fig has been found as far north as Canada. Spineless Prickly Pears The spineless prickly pears (O. ellisiana, O. stricta or O. robusta) are primarily used as ornamental plants when outside their normal growing environment. Although they are spineless, they still have fine stiff hairs (called glochids), which can irritate the skin. They have bright yellow flowers that sometimes have a red flush. The pads can be green or have a bluish waxy coating, and are used in containers or for xeriscape gardening. Although O. ellisiana and O. stricta are more shrub-like at 2 to 5 feet tall, the Opunita robusta can grow into a small tree of 15 feet tall. They bear sweet fruits and have edible pads similar to the Indian Fig variety. Purple Prickly Pears Several prickly pears have a colorful purple blush on their pads. The "Santa Rita" prickly pear (O.

violacea) has pretty purple pads that deepen in color during times of stress or drought. The variety called "Baby Rita" (O. basilaris) has purple pads, grows to only 8 inches and has pink flowers. Some blind prickly pears (O. rufida) have a reddish purple tinge. All are hardy enough to withstand frosts, but thrive in the more arid parts of U.S. Department of Agriculture zones 7 to 10. Miniature Prickly Pears Many prickly pears grow in low clumps or form miniature pads. The golden beavertail prickly pears (O. aurea) grow pads that reach 2 inches across and have clear yellow flowers. The bunny ears, or polka dot, prickly pears (O. microdasys “Albata”) forms tight clumps of small pads covered in snowy white spines. The unusual Joseph’s coat prickly pear (O. monacantha variegata) grows to about 18 inches, and forms variegated green and cream pads and small red flowers. All are hardy from U.S.

Department of Agriculture zones 7 to 10 except the variegated form, which is hardy down to zone 9. Cacti of the Southwest; Del Weniger Hardy Succulents: Tough Plants for Every Climate; Gwen Moore Kelaidis Identifying common Arizona cacti: Prickly Pear, Saguaro, Jumping Cholla and more - Homes for Sale & Real Estate in Scottsdale AZ | AZ Golf Homes Homes for Sale & Real Estate in Scottsdale AZ | AZ Golf Homes You are here: Home / Blog / Identifying common Arizona cacti: Prickly Pear, Saguaro, Jumping Cholla and more Identifying common Arizona cacti: Prickly Pear, Saguaro, Jumping Cholla and more June 27, 2014 by Don Matheson Cacti (plural for cactus) are one of the unique features of the beautiful Arizona landscape. This article describes a few of the most common cacti found in Arizona: prickly pear, saguaro, golden hedgehog, barrel and jumping cholla. We are Scottsdale real estate experts who are passionate about living in Arizona.

Make AZGolfHomes your source for everything you want to know about our area. 1) Prickly Pear: The prickly pear has a very distinctive shape – it appears almost flat, with cartoon-balloon shaped pads. Rich in fiber, B vitamins, iron, magnesium and amino acids, many people eat prickly pear (or drink prickly pear syrup) for its health benefits. The Prickly Pear’s fruit can be eaten raw (once the spines have been removed, of course), but they tend to taste better after they’ve been made into candy or wine. Prickly Pear Cactus in Arizona 2) Saguaro: The Saguaro cactus (pronounced “sə-ˈwär-ə”) only grows in the Sonoran Desert and can live as long as 200 years. Often weighing up to 6 tons (mostly water weight), the cactus usually lives for 50 years before it grows its first branch. Saguaro Cactus in Arizona 3) Golden Hedgehog Cactus: Named because it resembles the animal of the same name, the hedgehog cactus has short arms, usually 2-3 inches in length, and vibrant, dark purple flowers.

A fun fact about this cactus? Its spines can be grinded with sugar to make sweet cakes. Hedgehog Cactus 4) Barrel Cactus: These round, squat cacti can live as long as 130 years. Great cacti for any desert gardener, the barrel cactus is easy to maintain and grows quickly. The most interesting fact about this cactus is that is often leans towards the southwest, so it can be used as a compass of sorts if you’re stranded in the middle of the desert. Barrel Cactus in Arizona 5) Jumping Cholla: Watch out for these ones. Although the Jumping Cholla is also known as the Teddy Bear Cholla, there is nothing cuddly about it – please DO NOT hug it! The branches of a jumping cholla are easily detached, so if you so much as lightly brush up against one, be prepared to walk away with something more than you started with. The needles of a jumping cholla are very painful to remove from skin even though they look (deceptively) furry. Jumping Cholla in Scottsdale Fun Bonus Cactus Names: Here’s a laugh for the day.

Some cacti have the funniest names, like the Big Hatchet Snowball Cactus, the Heil’s Devil-Claw Cactus, the Xique-Xique and the Golden Easter Lily Cactus. Reach out to us if you would like to learn more about our area. Name* How Did You Hear About Us? Message Cacti / Desert Succulents - Saguaro National Park (U.S. National Park Service) Cacti / Desert Succulents Cacti / Desert Succulents Cacti / Desert Succulents Saguaro National Park is home to 25 species of cactus ranging from the towering saguaro cactus (Carnegiea gigantea) to the tiniest type of cactus in the park, the mammillaria (Mammillaria spp). The most common cacti species at Saguaro National Park and within Tucson, Arizona include: Saguaro cactus (Carnegiea gigantea) Photos of Common Types of Cactus Growing in Saguaro National Park, AZ May 29, 2013 Amy Moore 3 A Saguaro Cactus is a giant thing of beauty.

It towers over the desert landscape of Southern Arizona. It is clear why Teddy Roosevelt set aside this land to eventually become a National Park. I’m glad he had the foresight to preserve this unique plant that can live for hundreds of years. Even though the Saguaro is clearly the star of the show, they aren’t the only prickly plants growing in this park! A Fishhook Barrel Cactus with fruit. All cactus fruit is edible, but the fruit of the Barrel Cactus is supposed to taste pretty good. From left to right – Staghorn cholla cactus, Engelman’s prickly pear cactus, Fishhook barrel cactus Teddybear cholla cactus with fruit. This cactus is evil with a cute name. Do not, I repeat do NOT hug. A heartshaped Engelman’s prickly pear cactus. Reply 25 August, 2014 Do you mind if I quote a couple of your poosts as long aas I provide credit and sources back to your weblog? My blog site is in the exact ssme niche as yours and my users wluld definitely benefit from some of the information you provide here. Please let me know if this okay with you. Appreciate it!

Comment Thanks for joining me, Amy Moore, in my family's travels around Texas, the USA and beyond. Families that travel provide their children with a great supplemental education, and that's what we strive for. Hit the ABOUT PAGE to find out more! Cacti | Exploring Arizona Exploring Arizona Legal Stuff Cacti Arizona cacti have names that are exotic all by themselves: Teddy-Bear Cholla, Purple Prickly Pear, Engelmann’s Hedgehog, Organ Pipe. The plants themselves are as different and exotic as their names. Some of them are flat, some are short and round, some majestically tall. Pretty much all of them are spiked, but some are ever so much more nasty than others. This page might also be named “Why You Should Always Carry Tweezers in the Desert.” Cacti provide a home as well as food and building materials for birds and other critters of the desert. Natives used the fruit and other parts of cacti for a long time before the Spanish came riding into the country.

There’s a lot of jargon about cacti and I’m going to try to avoid it as much as possible, but I’ll give you some links at the bottom that will help, should you want to know more. One thing I’ll mention now: “Cacti” is what I’m going to use for multiples of “cactus.” A lot of people are using “cactuses” instead, but I see that as being for a bunch of different types, like this: “We have several Saguaro cacti and several different types of Prickly Pear cacti, but all of the cactuses are thorny.” Of course, I may not be consistent, either! Cholla Let’s take Cholla first as among the Arizona cacti it is the one I find most fascinating and irritating. There are lots of types of Cholla found here, from the Christmas to the Buckhorn and Staghorn to the Teddy-Bear and Chain-Fruit Cholla. I have a love/hate relationship with Cholla. It’s such a bizarre plant to look at, for starters.

When we first came to Arizona, we went out driving near Lost Dutchman State Park and saw these strange almost-trees with fuzzy arms and spiney trunks. We weren’t sure what we were seeing, but it was that plant, the cholla, that really brought home to us, even more than the mighty saguaro, that we weren’t in Kansas any more. And that’s why I love it. I hate it because it really wants to rend my flesh. Cholla, especially the Jumping version, is designed to break off into small chunks if it is brushed. This protects the main plant. The result is that even if you’re nowhere near the arms and just walking down a nice smooth trail, one of those chunks can jump up and stab you in the ankle (speaking from personal experience here). Not only that, but because of its shape, it’ll pivot around and stab you with a whole bunch more spines. The spines are not just pointed, though. They’re barbed at the end so they hook under the skin, making them tough to pull out and leaving behind pieces to make the next week fun too.

HINT: Seriously, carry tweezers because when you have to pull those things out, you don’t want to use your fingers. Along the sides of each spine are very fine barbs that will embed themselves into your fingertips. Nice, yes? Christmas Cholla is a very thin-stemmed, fairly short plant. Its fruit ripen to red in the winter, giving the species its name. Pencil Cholla is just a bit larger, and named because its stems are about a pencil-width across. Buckhorn and Staghorn Cholla are larger still and are kind of hard to tell apart from one another on first glance. Staghorn holds onto its fruit for longer and the fruit don’t have spines. Buckhorn has a whole bunch of spines in each cluster on the stem and its fruit fall off sooner. I think this one is a Staghorn. If you look close, there is a Cactus Wren hiding in there near the nest. Teddy-Bear is a much heavier-looking plant. It has so many spines on it that it looks almost soft and fuzzy-looking (thus its name), but it isn’t very nice if you do touch it!

The Teddy-Bear can grow up to five feet or more in height and has a sturdy trunk that looks very tree-like except for all the spines that cover it. Like the Chain-Fruit (or Jumping) Cholla, the Teddy-Bear has segments that separate easily. The result of brushing either of them is that a whole chunk of the plant will embed its spines into whatever part of your body, clothes or equipment. As I mentioned above, the spines are also barbed along the shaft, they don’t want to pull back out and, just to make it more exciting, makes pulling them out with your fingers an experience of its own! You see, the barbs break off and stick in your fingers, so you get many, many little barbs stuck in them too. The Chain-Fruit Cholla has dangling fruit chains that just grow longer and longer as time goes on. It can get to 10 feet or so in height so it can have fairly long dangly bits. It gets the name Jumping Cholla from the ease with which a segment that is just barely brushed “jumps” to you.

I’ve seen a suggestion that it also may be named for the ease with which it jumps from one location to another on you as you try to dislodge the chunk of cactus. Moving on from the Cholla clan, Hedgehog and Barrel cactus are both cylindrical, with the Hedgehog having a much smaller diameter (and it’s usually shorter than a mature Barrel). Barrel cactus can be quite large, growing to 10 feet in height or more from a spherical start. The flowers of a Barrel grow at the top of the cactus. Fish Hook Barrels have, well, hooks on their spines. Hedgehogs Hedgehogs come in different flavors, but the ones around here are mostly Englemann’s, from what I can tell. They’re also known as Strawberry Hedgehog Cactus for the color of their blossoms. They frequently grow in clusters. Prickly Pear Prickly Pear come in many shapes and sizes. They grow flat pads rather than the cylindrical shapes of other cacti.

They are far and away the most widely spread of the cacti that grow here, with species that grow naturally in many parts of the Americas and having been transplanted to many other places, and ranging from low desert to mountain elevations. A few of the species are considered not to have regular spines, but all have very small, barbed spines that will stick in your skin if you’re not careful. Purple Prickly Pears do have a reddish-purple color to them and Beavertails do have pads that are shaped somewhat like a beaver’s tail. Prickly Pears grow flowers in many colors (sometimes even within the same species) and range from just a foot high up to several feet. Both the fruit and the pads are edible with proper preparation (read that in part as removing those tiny spines!). Saguaro: The best-known cactus around here is the Saguaro (pronounced “Suh-wa-row”). They are the elders of the desert plant community, living and growing slowly, and some of the oldest are estimated at well over two centuries in age. They grow to 50 feet and weigh up to ten tons.

A Saguaro may not start getting “arms” until 60 or 70 years of age, but a lot depends on the frequency and amount of rain and the terrain on which the cactus stands. Check out this stick and notice how the yearly spacing varies! The Saguaro is the grand hotel of the desert, too, with many animals using it for shelter and food. Gila Woodpeckers and Flickers make holes for their nests in Saguaros and other birds may move into the old nests. The cactus creates a seal around these holes, so they can tolerate quite a number of them. After a Saguaro dies, the old nest cavity may be left as a “boot” made of the sealing material. The Saguaro also has a central ribbed structure that often stays upright long after the cactus has died. I recently read that the Saguaro originated in a more temperate forest, thus explaining why it grows so tall – its flowers, which are at the tips of its arms and trunk, are thus pushed up through competing trees to get to the sunlight and the critters that pollinate it.

Speaking of the flowers, Saguaro flowers are white (see the picture at the top of this page) and appear in the spring. The red fruit, which splits open while still on the Saguaro in late June and into July, is often mistaken for flowers. The birds chow down on the Saguaro fruit, so you can see all kinds of birds on a desert hike at this time of the year. Oh, and Saguaros only grow in a little bit of California, part of Arizona and in Mexico. I’ve seen old TV shows with the Indians attacking General Custer from a ridge lined with Saguaros. El Paso Taco Sauce has a Saguaro on its bottle, I think, and no Saguaros grow close to Texas. Yes, they are icons of the desert, but don’t be fooled that they are in every desert or dry place! Even in the Southwest they are very limited in their range. Organ Pipe and Senita: Two more “cousins” among the Arizona cacti are the Organ Pipe and the Senita. Both grow multiple arms from a base, but the Senita has fewer ribs on each arm (from five to nine on each) and a really interesting growth pattern.

As the arms get long enough, the spines at the top get much longer, which gives each arm a “gray-headed” effect. It is speculated that this is a measure to protect the tips of the arms from the sun. The Senita grows up to 15 feet in height. The Organ Pipe has more ribs than the Senita and can grow above twenty feet, making it the second tallest of the Arizona cacti after the Saguaro. The flowers on the Organ Pipe are long and white and pop out the sides of the arms. The Organ Pipe, like the Senita and the Saguaro, blooms at night, but the Organ Pipe closes its flowers as soon as the sun is up, where the Saguaro stays open until midday. That’s the Arizona cacti, but remember: “All cacti are succulents, but not all succulents are cacti.” Ocotillo is often mistaken for a cactus, but it is not one. It does, however, have plenty of thorns to defend itself! Yucca, Joshua Trees, Aloes and other succulents are also often mistaken for cacti.

Some links that may be of help: Information on the various types of Cactus Plants Euphorbia horrida Type 2 - Barrel Cactus. Single fat stem that is globular or columnar. Barrel cactus are some of the most eye-catching plants because of the unusual size and shape. They don't look like any other plants in there habitat, with their fat round bodies; and they can become quite large. Barrel cactus take on a globular shape when young, which could be more than 30 years. Then, most will become columnar. It is possible to have a barrel cactus that is two feet wide by seven feet tall. Two of the most popular genera of barrel cactus are Echinocactus and Ferocactus. Most people have heard of the Golden Barrel cactus (Echinocactus grusonii), which can grow to be 24 inches wide the 36 inches tall. However, there is Echinocactus platycanthus, which can mature at 30 inches wide and 84 inches tall. We have all heard of the Fish Hook cactus (Ferocactus wislizeni).

But what about Ferocactus diguetii that can reach up to 12 feet tall (3.6 m), 3 feet in diameter (90 cm). As with hedgehogs there are also contrasts in size with barrel cactus. Some of the smaller ones are Echinocactus texensis, E. horizonthalonius, Ferocactus latispinus, and F. viridescens. Many the South American cactus species also form a barrel shape, such as Gymnocalycium saglionis, Notocactus herteri, and Echinopsis bruchii (Soehrensia bruchii). Echinocactus platyacanthus F. latispinus Type 3 - Cluster of Balls. Small round stems forming a large clump. This type of cactus has small stems, no more than two inches (6cm) wide, but multiplies forming a large clump just above the soil. Many genera of cacti do this. However, several families are primarily characerized by this behavior. Those would be Lobivia, Rebutia, and Sulcorebutia.

Some of the other families that do this (but are not limited to this kind of behavior) are Mammillaria, Echinopsis, Gymnocalycium, and Notocactus. Flowers: Like hedgehogs, small clumping cacti like Rebutia are prized for their brightly colored flowers. Almost every color in the rainbow is represented. However, most commonly seen are magenta, pink, orange, and red. Sulcorebutia rauschii Rebutia cv. sunrise Gymnocalycium bruchii Type 4 - Columnar Cactus. Thin or thick, upright tall stems branching from the base or sides of main trunk. These cactus plants have thick ot thin stems grow very tall and straight. The primary example being the Saguaro cactus from the Sonoran Desert. Many columnar cactus have the name "cereus" meaning candle. Some examples are Pachycereus, Oreocereus, Stenocereus, Trichocereus, Pilosocereus, and Strombocereus. Many have large white bugle shaped flowers that open a night and are polinated by bats.

Many species are from Western South America, although there are some from Mexico and Southwest USA. Columnar cacti have a very large water storage capacity which drastically affects it's variable weight. The weight can vary as much as three times from dry season to monsoon season. Espostoa lanata Carnegiea gigantea Stenocereus thurberi Type 5 - Prickly Pear Cactus. Branches have round or cylindrical sections that drop off easily and become rooted. This group of plants is characterized by a sectional growing habit, in which each section can be round like a pancake or cylindrical like a section of pipe. The newest sections are very loosely attached, fall off easily, move around, and may eventually become rooted into the ground. The older sections at the base of the plant become ridged and act as the supporting trunk. Names and distribution: This group of plants is the largest in terms of numbers of species and geographical distribution. It includes thousands of species and it's range spans most of North and South America. It's range spans from Canada to Patagonia. Many species have even become naturalized in other parts of the world.

Most of the species are within the Opuntia family, but there is also Maihueniopsis, Puna, Tacinga, Tephrocactus, Tunilla, Austrocylindropuntia, Cylindropuntia, and Grusonia. Flowers: Many species in this group have spectacular flower displays mostly in the spring and summer. Quite a few species have bright yellow flowers. However, various shades of pink, red, and orange are not uncommon. Some species have inconspicuous flowers that are typically mixes of green and yellow or green and red. And a few species have brightly colored fruits that follow the flowering, such as the Christmas Cactus. Spines: This group of plants have spines that differ from other cacti. Some have spines that are straight, but the tip of the spine is barbed. When it pokes an object like you clothing, it hooks in and is tough to extract. In fact, the more you tug on it, the deeper it goes in. The other type of spines are called glochids. They are very small like saw dust and dry ones can float freely in the air when the plant is moved.

The glochids are grouped in small packets of a hundred or more and when touched, the entire packet will inject itself. These two types of spines make this group of cacti the most uncomfortable and memorable of all cacti. There are many techniques for removing the spines that get passed around like folklore from those people working in the trade. For the straight barbed spine, rather than trying to pull it straight out, try to figure which side of the tip is barbed, then try to twist the spine and unhook it like unhooking a fish hook from a fish. For the glochids, use a double edged shaver, and just scrape over the area that has the packet injection. The glochids will come out redily. Common Names: There are many regional common names typically derived from the shape of the plant or ones close encounters. Some are named after animals: "Beaver Tale cactus", "Teddy Bear Cholla", "Buckhorn Cholla", "Cow's Tongue", or "Owl Face Opuntia". Others are named after other objects such as "Peanut Cactus", "Prickly Pear", or "Thumb Buttons".

Still others are named after people or places: "Santa Rita Cactus", "Mini Rita Cactus", or "Indian Fig". Cylindropuntia biglovii "Owl Face Opuntia" Opuntia pentlandii Type 6 - Sub-surface Cacti. The body is buried under the surface of the soil with only the top exposed. Blossfeldia liliputana, Ariocarpus, Gymnocalycium, Escobaria, Obregonia, Strombocactus, Pelycyphora. These types of cacti take full advantage of their environment. Most of their bodies burried below the soil surface during drought periods in the desert. They camouflage themselves to look like their surrounding environment. When the rain pass through they soak up the moisture like a sponge. The body expands and rises above the surface and looks very healthy. This is the state most hobbiest keep the plant in. Gymnocalycium bodenbenderianum View clinical references for this vitamin or supplement References: Budinsky, A., Wolfram, R., Oguogho, A., Efthimiou, Y., Stamatopoulos, Y., and Sinzinger, H.

Regular ingestion of opuntia robusta lowers oxidation injury. Prostaglandins Leukot.Essent.Fatty Acids 2001;65(1):45-50. View abstract. Butera, D., Tesoriere, L., Di Gaudio, F., Bongiorno, A., Allegra, M., Pintaudi, A. M., Kohen, R., and Livrea, M. A. Antioxidant activities of sicilian prickly pear (Opuntia ficus indica) fruit extracts and reducing properties of its betalains: betanin and indicaxanthin. J Agric.Food Chem 11-6-2002;50(23):6895-6901. View abstract. Butterweck, V., Semlin, L., Feistel, B., Pischel, I., Bauer, K., and Verspohl, E. J. Comparative evaluation of two different Opuntia ficus-indica extracts for blood sugar lowering effects in rats. Phytother.Res. 2011;25(3):370-375. View abstract.

Cefalu, W. T., Ye, J., and Wang, Z. Q. Efficacy of dietary supplementation with botanicals on carbohydrate metabolism in humans. Endocr.Metab Immune.Disord Drug Targets. 2008;8(2):78-81. View abstract. Cho, J. Y., Park, S. C., Kim, T. W., Kim, K. S., Song, J. C., Kim, S. K., Lee, H. M., Sung, H. J., Park, H. J., Song, Y. B., Yoo, E. S., Lee, C. H., and Rhee, M. H. Radical scavenging and anti-inflammatory activity of extracts from Opuntia humifusa Raf. J Pharm Pharmacol 2006;58(1):113-119. View abstract. de, Wit M., Nel, P., Osthoff, G., and Labuschagne, M. T. The effect of variety and location on cactus pear (Opuntia ficus-indica) fruit quality. Plant Foods Hum.Nutr.

2010;65(2):136-145. View abstract. Dok-Go, H., Lee, K. H., Kim, H. J., Lee, E. H., Lee, J., Song, Y. S., Lee, Y. H., Jin, C., Lee, Y. S., and Cho, J. Neuroprotective effects of antioxidative flavonoids, quercetin, (+)-dihydroquercetin and quercetin 3-methyl ether, isolated from Opuntia ficus-indica var. saboten. Brain Res 3-7-2003;965(1-2):130-136. View abstract. El Kossori, R. L., Villaume, C., El Boustani, E., Sauvaire, Y., and Mejean, L. Composition of pulp, skin and seeds of prickly pears fruit (Opuntia ficus indica sp.). Plant Foods Hum Nutr 1998;52(3):263-270. View abstract.

Ennouri, M., Fetoui, H., Bourret, E., Zeghal, N., and Attia, H. Evaluation of some biological parameters of Opuntia ficus indica. 1. Influence of a seed oil supplemented diet on rats. Bioresour.Technol. 2006;97(12):1382-1386. View abstract. Ennouri, M., Fetoui, H., Bourret, E., Zeghal, N., Guermazi, F., and Attia, H. Evaluation of some biological parameters of Opuntia ficus indica. 2. Influence of seed supplemented diet on rats. Bioresour.Technol. 2006;97(16):2136-2140. View abstract. Fernandez, M. L., Lin, E. C., Trejo, A., and McNamara, D. J. Prickly pear (Opuntia sp.) pectin reverses low density lipoprotein receptor suppression induced by a hypercholesterolemic diet in guinea pigs.

J Nutr 1992;122(12):2330-2340. View abstract. Fernandez, M. L., Trejo, A., and McNamara, D. J. Pectin isolated from prickly pear (Opuntia sp.) modifies low density lipoprotein metabolism in cholesterol-fed guinea pigs. J Nutr 1990;120(11):1283-1290. View abstract. Fernandez-Lopez, J. A., Almela, L., Obon, J. M., and Castellar, R. Determination of antioxidant constituents in cactus pear fruits. Plant Foods Hum.Nutr. 2010;65(3):253-259. View abstract. Frati AC, Jimenex E Aruza R. Hypoglycemic effect of Opuntia ficus indica in non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus patients. Phytother Res 1990;4(5):195-197. Frati, A. C., Gordillo, B.

E., Altamirano, P., Ariza, C. R., Cortes-Franco, R., Chavez-Negrete, A., and Islas-Andrade, S. Influence of nopal intake upon fasting glycemia in type II diabetics and healthy subjects. Arch Invest Med (Mex.) 1991;22(1):51-56. View abstract. Frati-Munari, A. C., de Leon, C., Ariza-Andraca, R., Banales-Ham, M. B., Lopez-Ledesma, R., and Lozoya, X. [Effect of a dehydrated extract of nopal (Opuntia ficus indica Mill.) on blood glucose]. Arch.Invest Med.(Mex.) 1989;20(3):211-216. View abstract. Frati-Munari, A. C., Fernandez-Harp, J. A., Banales-Ham, M., and Ariza-Andraca, C. R. Decreased blood glucose and insulin by nopal (Opuntia sp.).

Arch Invest Med (Mex.) 1983;14(3):269-274. View abstract. Frati-Munari, A. C., Fernandez-Harp, J. A., de la, Riva H., Ariza-Andraca, R., and del Carmen, Torres M. Effects of nopal (Opuntia sp.) on serum lipids, glycemia and body weight. Arch Invest Med (Mex.) 1983;14(2):117-125. View abstract. Frati-Munari, A. C., Rios, Gil U., Ariza-Andraca, C. R., Islas, Andrade S., and Lopez, Ledesma R. [Duration of the hypoglycemic action of Opuntia streptacantha Lem.]. Arch Invest Med (Mex.) 1989;20(4):297-300. View abstract. Galati, E. M., Mondello, M. R., Giuffrida, D., Dugo, G., Miceli, N., Pergolizzi, S., and Taviano, M.

F. Chemical characterization and biological effects of Sicilian Opuntia ficus indica (L.) mill. Fruit juice: antioxidant and antiulcerogenic activity. J Agric.Food Chem 8-13-2003;51(17):4903-4908. View abstract. Galati, E. M., Mondello, M. R., Lauriano, E. R., Taviano, M. F., Galluzzo, M., and Miceli, N. Opuntia ficus indica (L.) Mill. fruit juice protects liver from carbon tetrachloride-induced injury. Phytother Res 2005;19(9):796-800. View abstract. Gallegos-Infante et al. Effect of air flow rate on the polyphenols content and antioxidant capacity of convective dried cactus pear cladodes (Opuntia ficus indica). International Journal of Food Sciences & Nutrition Supplement 2009;2(60):80-88.

Gandia-Herrero, F., Jimenez-Atienzar, M., Cabanes, J., Garcia-Carmona, F., and Escribano, J. Stabilization of the bioactive pigment of opuntia fruits through maltodextrin encapsulation. J.Agric.Food Chem. 10-13-2010;58(19):10646-10652. View abstract. Gentile, C., Tesoriere, L., Allegra, M., Livrea, M. A., and D'Alessio, P. Antioxidant betalains from cactus pear (Opuntia ficus-indica) inhibit endothelial ICAM-1 expression. Ann N.Y.Acad.Sci 2004;1028:481-486. View abstract. Ginestra G, Parker ML Bennett RN Robertson J Mandalari G Narbad A Lo Curto RB Bisignano G Faulds CB Waldron KW. Anatomical, chemical, and biochemical characterization of cladodes from prickly pear [Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Mill.].

J Agric Food Chem. 11-11-2009;57(21):10323-10330. Godard, M. P., Ewing, B. A., Pischel, I., Ziegler, A., Benedek, B., and Feistel, B. Acute blood glucose lowering effects and long-term safety of OpunDia supplementation in pre-diabetic males and females. J.Ethnopharmacol. 8-9-2010;130(3):631-634. View abstract. Gurrieri, S., Miceli, L., Lanza, C. M., Tomaselli, F., Bonomo, R. P., and Rizzarelli, E. Chemical characterization of sicilian prickly pear (Opuntia ficus indica) and perspectives for the storage of its juice. J.Agric.Food Chem. 2000;48(11):5424-5431. View abstract. Guzman-Maldonado, S. H., Morales-Montelongo, A.

L., Mondragon-Jacobo, C., Herrera-Hernandez, G., Guevara-Lara, F., and Reynoso-Camacho, R. Physicochemical, nutritional, and functional characterization of fruits xoconostle (Opuntia matudae) pears from Central-Mexico Region. J.Food Sci. 8-1-2010;75(6):C485-C492. View abstract. Habibi, Y., Heyraud, A., Mahrouz, M., and Vignon, M. R. Structural features of pectic polysaccharides from the skin of Opuntia ficus-indica prickly pear fruits. Carbohydr.Res 4-28-2004;339(6):1119-1127. View abstract. Hahm, S. W., Park, J., and Son, Y. S. Opuntia humifusa partitioned extracts inhibit the growth of U87MG human glioblastoma cells. Plant Foods Hum.Nutr. 2010;65(3):247-252. View abstract.

Jaramillo-Flores ME, Gonzalez-Cruz L Cornejo-Mazon M et al. Effect of thermal treatment on the antioxidant activity and content of carotenoids and phenolic compounds of cactus pear cladodes (Opuntia ficus-indica). Food Sci Tech Int 2003;9(4):271-278. Jiang, J. Q., Ye, W. C., Liu, Y. H., Chen, Z., Min, Z. D., and Lou, F. C. [A new alkaloid from Opuntia vulgaris]. Yao Xue.Xue.Bao. 2003;38(9):677-679. View abstract. Kim, J. H., Park, S. M., Ha, H. J., Moon, C. J., Shin, T. K., Kim, J. M., Lee, N. H., Kim, H. C., Jang, K. J., and Wie, M. B. Opuntia ficus-indica attenuates neuronal injury in in vitro and in vivo models of cerebral ischemia. J Ethnopharmacol.

3-8-2006;104(1-2):257-262. View abstract. Kim, J. M., Kim, D. H., Park, S. J., Park, D. H., Jung, S. Y., Kim, H. J., Lee, Y. S., Jin, C., and Ryu, J. H. The n-butanolic extract of Opuntia ficus-indica var. saboten enhances long-term memory in the passive avoidance task in mice. Prog.Neuropsychopharmacol.Biol.Psychiatry 8-16-2010;34(6):1011-1017. View abstract. Kleiner, O., Cohen, Z., and Mares, A. J. Low colonic obstruction due to Opuntia ficus indica seeds: the aftermath of enjoying delicious cactus fruits. Acta Paediatr. 2002;91(5):606-607. View abstract. Krantz C, Monier M Wahlstrom B. Absorption, excretion, metabolism and cardiovascular effects of beetroot extract in the rat.

Fd Cosmet Toxicol 1980;(18):363-366. Kumar, G. N. and Srikumar, K. Thermophilic laccase from xerophyte species Opuntia vulgaris. Biomed.Chromatogr. 2011;25(6):707-711. View abstract. Laurenz, J. C., Collier, C. C., and Kuti, J. O. Hypoglycaemic effect of Opuntia lindheimeri Englem in a diabetic pig model. Phytother Res 2003;17(1):26-29. View abstract. Lee, E. H., Kim, H. J., Song, Y. S., Jin, C., Lee, K. T., Cho, J., and Lee, Y. S. Constituents of the stems and fruits of Opuntia ficus-indica var. saboten. Arch Pharm Res 2003;26(12):1018-1023. View abstract. Li, C. Y., Cheng, X.

S., Cui, M. Z., and Yan, Y. G. [Regulative effect of Opuntia powder on blood lipids in rats and its mechanism]. Zhongguo Zhong.Yao Za Zhi. 2005;30(9):694-696. View abstract. Lim, K. T. Inhibitory effect of glycoprotein isolated from Opuntia ficus-indica var. saboten MAKINO on activities of allergy-mediators in compound 48/80-stimulated mast cells. Cell Immunol. 2010;264(1):78-85. View abstract. Linares, E., Thimonier, C., and Degre, M. The effect of NeOpuntia on blood lipid parameters--risk factors for the metabolic syndrome (syndrome X). Adv.Ther. 2007;24(5):1115-1125. View abstract. Lindsey, D. and Lindsey, W. E. Cactus spine injuries. Am J Emerg.Med 1988;6(4):362-369.

View abstract. MASTER, R. W. Amino acids in Nopalea cochinellifera. Experientia 1-15-1959;15(1):29-30. View abstract. MASTER, R. W. Isolation and purification of maltase from Nopalea cochinellifera. Enzymologia. 12-31-1958;20(3):153-156. View abstract. MASTER, R. W. Studies on maltase from Nopalea cochinellifera. Enzymologia. 12-31-1958;20(3):157-160. View abstract. Meckes-Lozyoa, M. and Roman-Ramos, R. Opuntia streptacantha: a coadjutor in the treatment of diabetes mellitus. Am J Chin Med 1986;14(3-4):116-118. View abstract. Miller, E. B., Gilad, A., and Schattner, A. Cactus thorn arthritis: case report and review of the literature.

Clin Rheumatol. 2000;19(6):490-491. View abstract. Ortiz-Escobar, T. B., Valverde-Gonzalez, M. E., and Paredes-Lopez, O. Determination of the folate content in cladodes of nopal (Opuntia ficus indica) by microbiological assay utilizing Lactobacillus casei (ATCC 7469) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. J.Agric.Food Chem. 5-26-2010;58(10):6472-6475. View abstract. Palumbo, B., Efthimiou, Y., Stamatopoulos, J., Oguogho, A., Budinsky, A., Palumbo, R., and Sinzinger, H. Prickly pear induces upregulation of liver LDL binding in familial heterozygous hypercholesterolemia. Nucl.Med Rev Cent.East Eur 2003;6(1):35-39. View abstract. Panico, A.

M., Cardile, V., Garufi, F., Puglia, C., Bonina, F., and Ronsisvalle, S. Effect of hyaluronic acid and polysaccharides from Opuntia ficus indica (L.) cladodes on the metabolism of human chondrocyte cultures. J.Ethnopharmacol. 5-4-2007;111(2):315-321. View abstract. PARIS, R. [Flavonoside of the flowers of Opuntia vulgaris Miller.]. C.R.Hebd.Seances Acad.Sci 7-2-1951;233(1):90-92. View abstract. Pittler, M. H., Verster, J. C., and Ernst, E. Interventions for preventing or treating alcohol hangover: systematic review of randomised controlled trials. BMJ 12-24-2005;331(7531):1515-1518. View abstract. Qiu, Y. K., Dou, D. Q., Pei, Y.

P., Yoshikawa, M., Matsuda, H., and Chen, Y. J. [Study on chemical constituents from Opuntia dillenii]. Zhongguo Zhong.Yao Za Zhi. 2005;30(23):1824-1826. View abstract. Qiu, Y. K., Dou, D. Q., Pei, Y. P., Yoshikawa, M., Matsuda, H., and Chen, Y. J. [The isolation and identification of a new alpha-pyrone from Opuntia dillenii]. Yao Xue.Xue.Bao. 2003;38(7):523-525. View abstract. Qiu, Y., Chen, Y., Pei, Y., Matsuda, H., and Yoshikawa, M. Constituents with radical scavenging effect from Opuntia dillenii: structures of new alpha-pyrones and flavonol glycoside. Chem Pharm Bull (Tokyo) 2002;50(11):1507-1510. View abstract.

Rodriguez-Garcia, M. E., de, Lira C., Hernandez-Becerra, E., Cornejo-Villegas, M. A., Palacios-Fonseca, A. J., Rojas-Molina, I., Reynoso, R., Quintero, L. C., Del-Real, A., Zepeda, T. A., and Munoz-Torres, C. Physicochemical characterization of nopal pads (Opuntia ficus indica) and dry vacuum nopal powders as a function of the maturation. Plant Foods Hum.Nutr. 2007;62(3):107-112. View abstract. Sagher, F. and SHANON, J. Sabra dermatitis; an occupational dermatitis due to prickly pear handling stimulating scabies. AMA.Arch Derm. 1956;74(3):269-275. View abstract. Saleem, R., Ahmad, M., Azmat, A., Ahmad, S. I., Faizi, Z., Abidi, L., and Faizi, S.

Hypotensive activity, toxicology and histopathology of opuntioside-I and methanolic extract of Opuntia dillenii. Biol Pharm Bull 2005;28(10):1844-1851. View abstract. Sanchez, E., Garcia, S., and Heredia, N. Extracts of edible and medicinal plants damage membranes of Vibrio cholerae. Appl.Environ.Microbiol. 2010;76(20):6888-6894. View abstract. Shanon, Y. and Sagher, F. [Sabra dermatitis. Occupational dermatitis caused by contact with the prickly pear which resembles scurf]. Dermatol.Int 1965;4(2):125-127. View abstract. Steinberg, J. M. and Eitan, A. Prickly pear fruit bezoar presenting as rectal perforation in an elderly patient. Int J Colorectal Dis. 2003;18(4):365-367. View abstract. Stintzing, F.

C., Schieber, A., and Carle, R. Identification of betalains from yellow beet (Beta vulgaris L.) and cactus pear [Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Mill.] by high-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. J Agric.Food Chem 4-10-2002;50(8):2302-2307. View abstract. Tesoriere L, Allegra M Butera D et al. Absorption, excretion, and distribution of dietary antioxidant betalains in LDLs: Potential health effects of betalains in humans. Am J Clin Nutr 2004;80:941-945. Torres-Castillo, J. A., Mondragon, Jacobo C., and Blanco-Labra, A. Characterization of a highly stable trypsin-like proteinase inhibitor from the seeds of Opuntia streptacantha (O. streptacantha Lemaire). Phytochemistry 2009;70(11-12):1374-1381. View abstract. Vargas, V.

H., Orea, Solano M., Sanchez, M. A., and Valencia, M. P. [Rhinitis and osmylogenic asthma caused by prickly pear. Presentation of a clinical case]. Rev Alerg.Mex. 1989;36(2):69-71. View abstract. Whiting, D. A. and Bristow, J. H. Dermatitis and keratoconjunctivitis caused by a prickly pear (Opuntia microdasys). S.Afr.Med J 8-16-1975;49(35):1445-1448. View abstract. Wolfram, R. M., Kritz, H., Efthimiou, Y., Stomatopoulos, J., and Sinzinger, H. Effect of prickly pear (Opuntia robusta) on glucose- and lipid-metabolism in non-diabetics with hyperlipidemia--a pilot study. Wien.Klin.Wochenschr. 10-31-2002;114(19-20):840-846. View abstract.

Ahmad A, Davies J, Randall S, Skinner GR. Antiviral properties of extract of Opuntia streptacantha. Antiviral Res 1996;30:75-85. View abstract. Argaez-Lopez N, Wacher NH, Kumate-Rodriguez J, et al. The use of complementary and alternative medicine therapies in type 2 diabetic patients in Mexico. Diabetes Care 2003;26:2470-1. View abstract. Bacardi-Gascon M, Duenas-Mena D, Jimenez-Cruz A. Lowering effect on postprandial glycemic response of nopales added to Mexican breakfasts. Diabetes Care 2007;30:1264-5. View abstract. Bush TM, Rayburn KS, Holloway SW, et al. Adverse interactions between herbal and dietary substances and prescription medications: a clinical survey. Altern Ther Health Med 2007;13:30-5. View abstract. Fernandez ML, Lin EC, Trejo A, McNamara DJ.

Prickly pear (Opuntia sp.) pectin alters hepatic cholesterol metabolism without affecting cholesterol absorption in guinea pigs fed a hypercholesterolemic diet. J Nutr 1994;124:817-24. View abstract. Frati AC, Xilotl Diaz N, Altamirano P, et al. The effect of two sequential doses of Opuntia streptacantha upon glycemia. Arch Invest Med (Mex) 1991;22:333-6. View abstract. Frati Munari AC, Quiroz Lazaro JL, Alramirano Bustamante P, et al. The effect of various doses of nopal (Opuntia streptacantha Lemaire) on the glucose tolerance test in healthy individuals. Arch Invest Med (Mex) 1988;19:143-8. Frati Munari AC, Vera Lastra O, Ariza Andraca CR. Evaluation of nopol capsules in diabetes mellitus. Gac Med Mex 1992;128:431-6. View abstract.

Frati-Munari AC, Altamirano-Bustamante E, Rodríguez-Bárcenas N, et al. Hypoglycemic action of Opuntia streptacantha Lemaire: study using raw extracts. Arch Invest Med (Mex) 1989;20:321-5. View abstract. Frati-Munari AC, Del Valle-Martinez LM, Ariza-Andraca CR, et al. Hypoglycemic action of different doses of nopal (Opuntia streptacantha Lemaire) in patients with type II diabetes mellitus. Arch Invest Med (Mex) 1989;20:197-201. View abstract. Frati-Munari AC, Gordillo BE, Altamirano P, Ariza CR. Hypoglycemic effect of Opuntia streptacantha Lemaire in NIDDM. Diabetes Care 1988;11:63-6. View abstract. Frati-Munari AC, Licona-Quesada R, Araiza-Andraca CR, et al.

Activity of Opuntia streptocantha in healthy individuals with induced hyperglycemia. Arch Invest Med (Mex) 1990;21:99-102. View abstract. Frati-Munari AC, Roca-Vides RA, Lopez-Perez RJ, et al. The glycemic index of some foods common in Mexico. Gac Med Mex 1991;127:163-70. View abstract. Meckes-Lozyoa M, Roman-Ramos R. Opuntia streptacantha; a coadjutor in the treatment of diabetes mellitus. Am J Chin Med 1986;14:116-8. Newcomer AD, Park HS, O'Brien PC, McGill DB. Response of patients with irritable bowel syndrome and lactase deficiency using unfermented acidophilus milk. Am J Clin Nutr 1983;38:257-63. View abstract. Palevitch D, Earon G, Levin I. Treatment of benign prostatic hypertrophy with Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Miller.

Int J Comp Alt Med 1994;Sept:21-2. Rayburn K, Martinez R, Escobedo M, et al. Glycemic effects of various species of nopal (Opuntia sp.) in type 2 diabetes mellitus. Texas J Rural Health 1998;26:68-76. Roman-Ramos R, Flores-Saenz JL, Alarcon-Aguilar FJ. Anti-hyperglycemic effect of some edible plants. J Ethnopharmacol 1995;48:25-32. View abstract. Roman-Ramos R, Flores-Saenz JL, Partida-Hernandez G, et al. Experimental study of the hypoglycemic effect of some antidiabetic plants. Arch Invest Med (Mex) 1991;22:87-93. View abstract. Sobieraj DM, Freyer CW. Probable hypoglycemic adverse drug reaction associated with prickly pear cactus, glipizide, and metformin in a patient with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Ann Pharmacother 2010;44:1334-7. View abstract. Tesoriere L, Butera D, Pintaudi AM, et al. 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. View abstract. Trejo-Gonzalez A, Gabriel-Ortiz G, Puebla-Perez A, et al. A purified extract from prickly pear cactus (Opuntia fuliginosa) controls experimentally induced diabetes in rats. J Ethnopharmacol 1996;55:27-33. View abstract. Villasenor IM, Lamadrid MR. Comparative anti-hyperglycemic potentials of medicinal plants. J Ethnopharmacol 2006;104:129-31. View abstract. Wiese J, McPherson S, Odden MC, Shlipak MG. Effect of Opuntia ficus indica on symptoms of the alcohol hangover.

Arch Intern Med 2004;164:1334-40. View abstract. Wolfram R, Budinsky A, Efthimiou Y, et al. Daily prickly pear consumption improves platelet function. Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids 2003;69:61-6. View abstract. Aires, V., Adote, S., Hichami, A., Moutairou, K., Boustani, E. S., and Khan, N. A. Modulation of intracellular calcium concentrations and T cell activation by prickly pear polyphenols. Mol.Cell Biochem. 2004;260(1-2):103-110. View abstract. Alarcon-Aguilar, F. J., Valdes-Arzate, A., Xolalpa-Molina, S., Banderas-Dorantes, T., Jimenez-Estrada, M., Hernandez-Galicia, E., and Roman-Ramos, R. Hypoglycemic activity of two polysaccharides isolated from Opuntia ficus-indica and O.

streptacantha. Proc.West Pharmacol.Soc. 2003;46:139-142. View abstract. Alimi, H., Hfaiedh, N., Bouoni, Z., Hfaiedh, M., Sakly, M., Zourgui, L., and Rhouma, K. B. Antioxidant and antiulcerogenic activities of Opuntia ficus indica f. inermis root extract in rats. Phytomedicine. 12-1-2010;17(14):1120-1126. View abstract. Andrade-Cetto, A. and Wiedenfeld, H. Anti-hyperglycemic effect of Opuntia streptacantha Lem. J.Ethnopharmacol. 1-27-2011;133(2):940-943. View abstract. Baldassano, S., Tesoriere, L., Rotondo, A., Serio, R., Livrea, M. A., and Mule, F.

Inhibition of the mechanical activity of mouse ileum by cactus pear (Opuntia Ficus Indica, L, Mill.) fruit extract and its pigment indicaxanthin. J.Agric.Food Chem. 7-14-2010;58(13):7565-7571. View abstract. Banuelos, G. S., Fakra, S. C., Walse, S. S., Marcus, M. A., Yang, S. I., Pickering, I. J., Pilon-Smits, E. A., and Freeman, J. L. Selenium accumulation, distribution, and speciation in spineless prickly pear cactus: a drought- and salt-tolerant, selenium-enriched nutraceutical fruit crop for biofortified foods. Plant Physiol 2011;155(1):315-327. View abstract. Bensadon, S., Hervert-Hernandez, D., Sayago-Ayerdi, S. G., and Goni, I. By-products of Opuntia ficus-indica as a source of antioxidant dietary fiber. Plant Foods Hum.Nutr.

2010;65(3):210-216. View abstract. Bisson, J. F., Daubie, S., Hidalgo, S., Guillemet, D., and Linares, E. Diuretic and antioxidant effects of Cacti-Nea, a dehydrated water extract from prickly pear fruit, in rats. Phytother.Res. 2010;24(4):587-594. View abstract. Bouslama, L., Hayashi, K., Lee, J. B., Ghorbel, A., and Hayashi, T. Potent virucidal effect of pheophorbide a and pyropheophorbide a on enveloped viruses. J.Nat.Med. 2011;65(1):229-233. View abstract.

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Rodents That Eat Prickly Pear Cactus | Home Guides | SF Gate Rodents That Eat Prickly Pear Cactus Rodents That Eat Prickly Pear Cactus Wood rats eat the pads and fruits of prickly pear cactus. A clump of prickly pear cactus is like a five-star restaurant to a number of small rodents that rely on it in their diets. Certain kinds of rats, mice, gophers and ground squirrels eat prickly pear (Opuntia spp.) pads, fruits and seeds, as well as find shelter and protection among the spiny, thickly growing plants. Some rats and mice rely on the water stored in the succulent plant tissue as a fluid source. Rodents help distribute prickly pear seeds by depositing them in their feces after eating the fruits. There are many kinds of prickly pear that span U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 4 through 11, and the particular zones depend on the species. Rats In areas where prickly pears are common, the most conspicuous rodent that eats their pads and fruits is the wood rat.

Also called pack rats or trade rats, these gray rodents average 13 inches long, with long furred tails They build large nests made of plant parts and found objects in prickly pear clumps, under vegetation or in rock crevices. Nocturnal wood rats forage at night, sometimes "trading" natural objects being carried in their mouths for campsite items like keys, watches and pop-tops for nest decorations. They can metabolize oxalic acid, present in high quantities in prickly pear and other succulents, which is toxic to other mammals. The rats don't need to drink free water if they eat succulent plants like prickly pear. Eight species of wood rats range through North America into Mexico. Cotton rats, native to western North America, will also eat prickly pear fruit. Mice A number of mice eat prickly pear fruits and seeds and prey upon young seedlings.

Pocket mouse, the cactus mouse, Nelson's kangaroo rat -- which is really a mouse -- and the desert pocket mouse ate 100 percent of unprotected prickly pear seedlings in a grassland area after five days, according to the "Journal of Arid Environments." Merriam's kangaroo rat eats prickly pear fruits and seeds. Kangaroo mice are also noted for being able to get all the water they need from the seeds and plants they eat. The brush mouse will feed upon prickly pear seeds and fruit. Gophers Pocket gophers are burrowing rodents that spend their lives in a maze of underground burrows, living quarters and storage compartments they create. They have large cheek pouches for temporarily storing and transporting food. The northern pocket gopher lives in dry, short-grass prairies and gets water by eating prickly pear cactus. Chipmunks Quick-moving chipmunks have bushy tails and black-and-white stripes on each side of their spines and across their faces from nose to ear. Active during the day, 24 chipmunk species range through North America from Canada to Mexico in diverse habitats from high mountains to deserts.

Cheek pouches transport food from foraging areas to nest areas. Two species of chipmunks in Utah, cliff chipmunk and the Uinta chipmunk, include seeds and fruits of the prickly pear in their diets. Ground Squirrels Ground squirrels are small- to medium-sized gray to brown rodents that live in ground burrows rather than nest in trees. They can have slender to full tails. Smaller species are often confused with chipmunks, because ground squirrels are also diurnal and some have stripes down their backs. Larger ground squirrels are heavier-bodied with bushy tails. Spotted ground squirrels in Utah eat the seeds and fruits of the prickly pear, as do many of their relatives. Wild Mammals of North America; eds. George A. Feldhamer et al. About the Author Cathryn Chaney has worked as a gardening writer since 2002. Her horticultural experience working in the nursery industry informs her garden articles, especially those dealing with arid landscaping and drought-tolerant gardening. Chaney also writes poetry, which has appears in "Woman's World" magazine and elsewhere.

Chaney graduated from the University of Arizona in 1992 with a Bachelor of Arts in English. Photo Credits Prickly Pear Cactus - DesertUSA Prickly Pear Cactus Genus Opuntia Most prickly pear cactus have yellow, red or purple flowers, even among the same species. They vary in height from less than a foot (Plains, Hedgehog, Tuberous) to 6 or 7 feet (Texas, Santa Rita, Pancake). Pads can vary in width, length, shape and color. The Beavertail, Santa Rita and Blind Pear are regarded as spineless, but all have glochids. Prickly Pear Cactus flowers Prickly pear cactus information Prickly pear cactus represent about a dozen species of the Opuntia genus (Family Cactaceae) in the North American deserts. All have flat, fleshy pads that look like large leaves. The pads are actually modified branches or stems that serve several functions -- water storage, photosynthesis and flower production. Chollas are also members of the Opuntia genus but have cylindrical, jointed stems rather than flat pads.

Like other cactus, most prickly pears and chollas have large spines -- actually modified leaves -- growing from tubercles -- small, wart-like projections -- on their stems. But members of the Opuntia genus are unique because of their clusters of fine, tiny, barbed spines called glochids. Found just above the cluster of regular spines, glochids are yellow or red in color and detach easily from the pads. Glochids are often difficult to see and more difficult to remove, once lodged in the skin. Tiny, barbed spines called glochids. The fruits of most prickly pears are edible and sold in stores under the name "tuna." Prickly pear branches (the pads) are also cooked and eaten as a vegetable. They, too, are sold in stores under the name "Nopalito." Because of the glochids, great care is required when harvesting or preparing prickly pear cactus. Both fruits and pads of the prickly pear cactus are rich in slowly absorbed soluble fibers that may help keep blood sugar stable. Prickly Pear Nectar is made with the juice and pulp of the fruits and is available from our online store.

Eastern Prickly Pear Cactus, found in Northeastern North America and Southern Canada. The phylogenetic trees above and below were created by me in paint. The one above shows the overall classification of life of the Prickly Pear Cactus. It shows how it is a member of the Eukarya domain, the Plantae phylum, and so on all the way down to the genus and species Opuntia humifusa. The phylogenetic tree below takes a little bit different approach. This one starts by showing the family the prickly pear belongs to and goes on to show the many genuses in this family. It then goes on to show the different species that belong to this genus. All of the different species are not listed as there are hundreds of them, but it gives you a general sense to where Opuntia humifusa stands in regards to its closest relatives.

Question: Prickly pear and saguaro are types of what?
Answer: Cactus