Prickly Pear
Opuntia phaeacantha
Description 2
The large green oval vegetative structures or pads are actually flattened photosynthetic stems that are covered with a waxy cuticle enabling the plants to withstand long periods of drought. Following pollination, the flower gives way to a large juicy fruit. Native Americans boil the fruit into a highly prized sauce. A related species, Opuntia cochenillifera, is cultivated because it attracts cochineal insects (scale insects). These insects are ground up to produce carmine dye which is a pigment used for food coloring and paints.
Distribution (circa 2001) 3
Many habitats from the Outer South Coast Ranges to the San Bernardino and E Peninsular Ranges to the Sonoran Desert and mt. ranges of the Desert Province; 45-2220 m.
Fuentes y créditos
- (c) casbotany, todos los derechos reservados, subido por casbotany
- Adaptado por casbotany del trabajo de (c) Wikipedia, algunos derechos reservados (CC BY-SA), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cactaceae
- (c) casbotany, algunos derechos reservados (CC BY-SA)
Más información
Range Map
(c) casbotany, todos los derechos reservados
(c) casbotany, todos los derechos reservados
NaturaLista Mapa
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