Opuntia stricta - Prickly Pear

❏ Binomial Name : Opuntia stricta (Haw.) Haw

❏ Synonym : Opuntia nitens,Opuntia tunoidea,Cactus strictus

❏ Family : Cactaceae

❏ Common Name : Prickly Pear

❏ Tamil Name : Sappathikalli

❏ Hindi Name : Nagphana

❏ IUCN status: Not Evaluated

Opuntia stricta Botanical Description

fleshy shrub, growing under desert and dry conditions; the stem and branches, which are green, and become flattened and look very much like leaves, are called phylloclades. The plant is 1-1.8 m tall, internodes 15 cm long. Thorns, called areoles, are prickly, the largest one is very stout, sharp and about 2 cm in length; there are about 35 areoles per internode. Flowers are yellow, 5-6 cm in across, epicalyx with 4 sepals, green, 1.7 cm long, 1.8 cm broad. Flowers have 12 petals, regular, superior. There are around 15 flowers on the topmost internode. each flower arising from the axil of a scale leaf which falls off earlier, leaving behind a scar at the base. Fruits are fleshy, almost berry-like, pyriform, depressed at the tip, 6.1 cm long, 3.1 cm in diameter. Fl. &Fr.: Throughout the year.

Opuntia stricta Medicinal uses

❀ Fruits are edible and helps to increase appetite. Excessive amounts may cause diaorrhea. Flowers are used to treat heat boils. Fruits eaten by peacocks, squirrels and hares.

❀ The fruit is said to have a value in the treatment of diabetes

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