Opuntia macrorhiza Twist-spine prickly pear (Cactaceae) Evergreen perennial

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Opuntia macrorhiza
Twist-spine prickly pear
Evergreen perennial
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The Opuntia macrorhiza plant species is found in Southwestern N. America - Texas to Missouri and Kansas. It is a member of the Cactaceae family. Common gardeners may know the plant as Twist-spine prickly pear.

Cultivation | Propagation | General Uses
Medicinal | Edible Uses

Latin Name:  Opuntia macrorhiza
Common Name:  Twist-spine prickly pear
Family:  Cactaceae
Author:  Engelm.

Known Hazards:  The plant has numerous minutely barbed glochids (hairs) that are easily dislodged when the plant is touched and they then become stuck to the skin where they are difficult to see and remove. They can cause considerable discomfort[200].

Mature Height:  0.12   Mature Width:  0.8

Habitat:  Sandy, gravelly or rocky soil in grasslands[228]. Plants can sometimes persist for years under invading trees[228].

Edible Uses: Fruit - raw, cooked or dried for later use[257]. Sweet and gelatinous[85]. Lean and insipid[95]. The unripe fruits can be added to soups etc, imparting an okra-like mucilaginous quality[183]. The fruit can hang on the plant all year round[160]. Be careful of the plants irritant hairs, see notes above. The fruits of O. macrorhiza are about 4cm in diameter and usually free of spines[200]. The following notes are for O. compressa. They almost certainly also apply to this species[K]. Pads - cooked or raw[62, 160]. Watery and very mucilaginous[85]. Seed - briefly roasted then ground into a powder[62]. It is also used as a thickener[62].

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Cultivation | Propagation | General Uses
Medicinal | Edible Uses

The information above has been supplied solely via the hard work and dedication of the team at 'Plants for a Future'.
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