View source for Opuntia ficus-indica

{{SPlantbox
|familia=Cactaceae
|genus=Opuntia
|species=ficus-indica
|common_name=Indian Fig Opuntia, barbary fig, prickly pear
|habit=cacti-succulent
|lifespan=perennial
|exposure=sun
|water=dry
|features=flowers, edible, fruit
|flowers=red, yellow, white
|Temp Metric=°F
|jumpin=If this plant info box on watering; zones; height; etc. is mostly empty you can click on the edit tab and fill in the blanks!
|image=Opuntia_ficus-indica_(Indian_Fig)_at_Secunderabad,_AP_W_IMG_6674.jpg
|image_width=200
}}
[[Image:Opuntia ficus-indica4.jpg|thumb|Opuntia ficus-indica flower]]
'''''Opuntia ficus-indica''''' (''Indian Fig Opuntia'' or ''barbary fig'') is a species of [[cactus]] and a long-domesticated crop plant important in agricultural economies throughout arid and [[Semi-arid climate|semiarid]] parts of the world. A common English name for the plant and its fruit, is the '''prickly pear''', although this common name has also been applied to other less common [[Opuntia]] species.

Fig Opuntia is grown primarily as a [[fruit]] crop, but also for the vegetable [[nopal]]es and other uses.  Most culinary references to the "prickly pear" are referring to this species. The name "tuna" is also used for the fruit of this cactus, and for ''[[Opuntia]]'' in general.

The fruits flower in three distinct colors: white, yellow and red. They<!--The flowers or the fruits?--> first appear in early May through the early summer and ripen from August through October. The fruits are typically eaten, minus the thick outer skin, after chilling in a refrigerator for a few hours. They have a taste similar to a juicy extra sweet [[watermelon]]. The bright red/purple, or white/yellowish flesh contains many tiny hard seeds that are usually swallowed, but should be avoided by those who have problems digesting seeds.

{{Inc|
Opuntia ficus-indica, Mill. (O. gymnocarpa, A. Web.). Indian Fig. An erect, tree-like plant; reaching the height of 10-15 ft., and with a woody cylindrical trunk: joints (elliptical or oblong, often with bluish bloom, thick, often 18 in. long and one-third as wide: areoles orbicular and sparingly covered with white wool and yellow bristles; spines usually wanting, occasionally 1-2 small weak ones are present: fls. yellow, expanding to 3—4 in. diam.: fr. yellow, with reddish pulp, bristly, 2 in. diam., edible. Mex.— A species widely grown throughout the warm temperate regions of the world. In some regions, escaping from cult., it has become a troublesome weed. Frequently cult, for its fr. under the name of Indian fig.
}}

==Cultivation==


===Propagation===


===Pests and diseases===


==Varieties==


==Gallery==

<gallery perrow=5>
Image:Prickly pear seller.jpg|The fruits of ''Opuntia ficus-indica'' as sold in Morocco.
File:Opuntia_ficus-indica_fruit9.jpg|
Image:Upload.png| photo 1
Image:Upload.png| photo 2
Image:Upload.png| photo 3
</gallery>

==References==
<references/>
*[[Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture]], by L. H. Bailey, MacMillan Co., 1963
<!--- xxxxx  *Flora: The Gardener's Bible, by Sean Hogan. Global Book Publishing, 2003. ISBN 0881925381  -->
<!--- xxxxx  *American Horticultural Society: A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants, by Christopher Brickell, Judith D. Zuk. 1996. ISBN 0789419432  -->
<!--- xxxxx  *Sunset National Garden Book. Sunset Books, Inc., 1997. ISBN 0376038608  -->

==External links==
*{{wplink}}

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