La Opuntia ficus-indica it is a shrubby cactus that can grow quite fast even when the climate is dry and the soil is low in nutrients. For this reason, it is one of the plants that has become invasive in many countries, especially in southern Spain.
But this does not have to be an inconvenience, not too serious at least. It has several uses in gastronomy, which is why its cultivation is allowed in certain areas.
Origin and characteristics of Opuntia ficus-indica
Image - Wikimedia / Diego Delso
La Opuntia ficus-indica is a shrubby cactus that belongs to the genus Opuntia. It is native to Mexico, although it can be found both in the prairies of southern Canada to the Strait of Magellan (southern Chile). It was introduced to Europe between the XNUMXth and XNUMXth centuries, by the so-called Spanish conquerors.
It is characterized by reaching an approximate height of 5 meters. It does not have leaves as such, but it does have segments known as cladodes or stalks that are more or less flat, oval, and green.. Two types of spines sprout from its areolas: the central ones, which are longer and harder, and the radial ones, which are much finer and shorter. The latter are the ones that easily catch on the skin and / or clothing just by touching them.
As for the flowers, they sprout at the top of the segments, once a year, and are yellow or reddish. The fruit is a berry that has an oval shape and it measures about 5-7 centimeters in diameter by 5-11 centimeters long.
It is popularly known as the pala, prickly pear, palera, or prickly pear fig tree, and it is one of the cacti that can be used the most.
What can the prickly pear be used for?
The prickly pear is a very fast growing cactus that has important uses worldwide. For instance:
Gastronomic uses
That's how it is. It is an edible plant. The young segments can be eaten in salads; Y the fruits are widely used as desserts, as well as to prepare sauces and jams. These have a very pleasant sweet taste, and can be eaten fresh without problem.
Medical uses
Prickly pears, as they are known in Spain, are the fruits of the Opuntia ficus-indica, and they are very nutritious. They contain vitamins A, C, B1, B2, and B3, as well as calcium, iron, phosphorus, and zinc. For this reason, It is interesting to include them in the diet as it will help us to have a stronger immune system.
As for the segments, if they are fresh and heated in the oven, then they can be used as emollients. To do this, poultices are made and placed in the required area once they have been allowed to cool a bit.
Others
Other uses of the prickly pear are:
- In cosmetics: makeup products are made with it.
- It serves for raise red mealybugs (scientific name: dactylopius coccus), which feeds on its sap. By doing so, a dye is obtained that is used as a colorant.
- In the past it was used as a toy, joining two rounded segments with sticks.
- At present, It is present in both the flag and the coat of arms of Mexico.
Why is it invasive?
La Opuntia ficus-indica is a very fast growing species, which has managed to become naturalized especially in the Mediterranean region. There, the mild temperatures, warm in summer, and the rains that usually fall only in spring and autumn, give the plant what it needs to grow.
Added to this is the fact that when a segment falls to the ground, it soon takes root and begins to develop. And this is a problem for native plants, which generally grow slower. Thus, unless something is done to prevent it, a single specimen of prickly pear can end up destroying the ecosystem of a certain area.
For this reason, since 2013 it is included in the Spanish Catalog of Invasive Exotic Species, with the name opuntia maxima Miller, which is one of the synonyms for Opuntia ficus-indica. As a consequence of this, its possession, traffic, transport and of course also its introduction into nature is prohibited.
Although there are exceptions. As it is edible, in Spain it is allowed to grow it as long as it is not introduced into the natural environment and it is controlled.
What are the cares of the cactus?
Taking into account what we have just said, we are going to tell you what the Opuntia ficus-indica to be able to be well. But first of all, we want to emphasize that it cannot be forgotten that it is a species with invasive potential, which is why it is extremely important to have it in an area where we know that it will not cause damage.
- Location: you have to put it outside, so that it can give direct sunlight.
- Soil or substrate: it is a bit indifferent, but it has to absorb the water quickly.
- Irrigation: if it is in a pot, it will be watered from time to time, letting the substrate dry before watering it again; but if it is in the garden you will only have to worry about it for the first year.
- Pruning: you can prune it in spring or summer, but be careful with its thorns.
- Pests: mealybugs are a pest that do the most damage, but they are removed with diatomaceous earth (for sale No products found.) or with an anti-mealybug (on sale No products found.). You should also keep an eye on the snails.
- Rusticity: supports frosts down to -5ºC.
How about the Opuntia ficus-indica?