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{{SPlantbox
{{SPlantbox
|genus=Nopalea
|familia=Cactaceae
|genus=Opuntia
|taxo_author=Mill.
|common_name=prickly pear, paddle cactus, nopales
|habit=cacti-succulent
|Temp Metric=°F
|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!
|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=Upload.png
|image=Opuntia_littoralis_var_vaseyi_4.jpg
|image_width=240
|image_width=240
|image_caption=Opuntia littoralis var. vaseyi
}}
}}
'''''Opuntia''''', also known as [[nopal]]es (see [[#As food|below]]), or Paddle Cactus from the resemblance to the ball-and-paddle toy, is a [[genus]] in the cactus [[family (biology)|family]], [[Cactaceae]].
Currently, only '''prickly pears''' are included in this genus of about 200<ref>[http://www.sdnhm.org/research/botany/opuntioideae.html Jon P. Rebman, Ph.D., "What has happened to Opuntia?" San Diego Natural History Museum]</ref> [[species]] distributed throughout most of the [[Americas]]. Chollas are now separated into the genus ''[[Cylindropuntia]]'', which some still consider a [[subgenus]] of ''Opuntia''. ''[[Austrocylindropuntia]]'', ''[[Corynopuntia]]'' and ''[[Micropuntia]]'' are also often included in the present genus, but like ''Cylindropuntia'' they seem rather well distinct. ''[[Brasiliopuntia]]'' and ''[[Miqueliopuntia]]'' are closer relatives of ''Opuntia''.
The most commonly [[culinary]] species is the [[Indian Fig Opuntia]] (''O. ficus-indica''). Most culinary uses of the term 'prickly pear' refer to this species. Prickly pears are also known as [[tuna]], [[nopal]] or ''nopales,'' from the [[Nahuatl]] word ''nōpalli'' for the pads, or nostle, from the Nahuatl word ''nōchtli'' for the fruit; or paddle cactus (from the resemblance to the ball-and-paddle toy). They are native to [[Mexico]].
[[Image:Prickly Pear Closeup.jpg|thumb|left|Typical [[habitus]] of an ''Opuntia'' with fruit]]
Prickly pear cacti typically grow with flat, rounded [[Cladophyll|platyclades]] that are armed with two kinds of [[Spine (botany)|spine]]s; large, smooth, fixed spines and small, hairlike spines called [[glochid]]s that easily penetrate skin and detach from the plant. Many types of prickly pears grow into dense, tangled structures.
Like all true cactus species, prickly pears are native only to the [[Western hemisphere]]; however, they have been introduced to other parts of the globe.
''Opuntia'' are the most cold-tolerant of the lowland cacti, extending into western and southern [[Canada]]; one [[subspecies]], [[Opuntia fragilis|''Opuntia fragilis'' var. ''fragilis'']], has been found growing along the [[Beatton River]] in central [[British Columbia]], southwest of [[Cecil Lake]] at 56° 17’ N latitude and 120° 39’ W longitude.<ref>Cota-Sánchez (2002)</ref>
Prickly Pears also give a fruit that is commonly eaten in [[Mexico]], known as "Tuna", also used to make [[Aguas frescas]]. The fruit can be red, wine-red, green or yellow-orange.
[[Charles Darwin]] was the first to note that these cacti have [[thigmotaxis|thigmotactic]] [[anther]]s: when the anthers are touched, they curl over, depositing their [[pollen]]. This movement can be seen by gently poking the anthers of an open Opuntia [[flower]]. The same trait has [[convergent evolution|evolved convergently]] in other cacti (e.g. ''[[Lophophora]]'').
{{Inc|
{{Inc|
Nopalea (from the Mexican name of the cochineal cactus). Cactaceae. A genus of 4 or 5 species, often placed with the opuntias, but differing from the latter in having erect petals, and stamens and style exsert beyond the perianth, as well as in some minor details. Natives of Trop. Amer. N. coccinellifera, Salm- Dyck (N. inaperta, Schott). An arborescent, flat- stemmed plant, with a somewhat cylindrical trunk 6-10 in. diam., widely grown in semi-tropical countries, but rarely found in the U. S., and then only in the largest collections of cacti. It is chiefly interesting in being one of the important food-plants of the cochineal insect. B.M. 2741. 2742 (as Cactus cochinellifer). N. guatemalensis and N. lutea are 2 recently described species from Guatemala which have been intro. into cult.
Nopalea (from the Mexican name of the cochineal cactus). Cactaceae. A genus of 4 or 5 species, often placed with the opuntias, but differing from the latter in having erect petals, and stamens and style exsert beyond the perianth, as well as in some minor details. Natives of Trop. Amer. N. coccinellifera, Salm- Dyck (N. inaperta, Schott). An arborescent, flat- stemmed plant, with a somewhat cylindrical trunk 6-10 in. diam., widely grown in semi-tropical countries, but rarely found in the U. S., and then only in the largest collections of cacti. It is chiefly interesting in being one of the important food-plants of the cochineal insect. B.M. 2741. 2742 (as Cactus cochinellifer). N. guatemalensis and N. lutea are 2 recently described species from Guatemala which have been intro. into cult.
==Varieties==
==Species==
Selected species==
''Opuntia'' [[Hybrid (biology)|hybridizes]] readily between species.<ref name="griffith2004"/> This can make classification difficult. Also, not all species listed here may actually belong into this genus.
[[Image:Starr_031108-0182_Opuntia_cochenillifera.jpg|thumb|right|''[[Opuntia cochenillifera]]'']]
[[Image:Opuntia fragilis.jpg|thumb|right|[[Little Prickly Pear]]<br/>''[[Opuntia fragilis]]'']]
[[Image:Opuntia oricola 1.jpg|thumb|right|''[[Opuntia oricola]]'']]
[[Image:Opuntia ovata 2.jpg|thumb|right|''[[Opuntia ovata]]'']]
[[Image:Opuntia pinkavae ies.jpg|thumb|right|[[Pinkava's Prickly Pear]] (''[[Opuntia pinkavae]]''), named in honor of [[Donald John Pinkava]]]]
[[Image:Opuntia polyacantha ies.jpg|thumb|right|[[Panhandle Prickly Pear]]<br/>''[[Opuntia polycantha]]'']]
[[Image:Opuntia humifusa ottawa il thecoldmidwest.jpg|thumb|right|[[Opuntia humifusa]] growing in [[Ottawa, IL]]]]
[[Image:Opuntia robusta1GEHU.jpg|thumb|right|''[[Opuntia robusta]]'' flowers]]
[[Image:Opuntia riviereana 1.jpg|thumb|right|''[[Opuntia stenopetala]]'']]
* ''[[Opuntia aciculata]]''
* ''[[Opuntia anacantha]]''
* ''[[Opuntia atrispina]]''
* ''[[Opuntia auberi]]''
* ''[[Opuntia aurantiaca]]''
* ''[[Opuntia basilaris]]'' – Beavertail cactus
* ''[[Opuntia boldinghii]]''
* ''[[Opuntia chaffeyi]]''
* ''[[Opuntia chlorotica]]'' – [[Pancake Prickly Pear]]; native to southwest USA and the [[Sonoran desert|Sonoran]] and [[Mojave desert]]s.
* ''[[Opuntia clavata]]''
* ''[[Opuntia cochenillifera]]''
* ''[[Opuntia comonduensis]]''
* ''[[Opuntia compressa]]''
* ''[[Opuntia curvospina]]''
* ''[[Opuntia decumana]]''
* ''[[Opuntia decumbens]]'' – ''[[Nopal de Culebra]]''
* ''[[Opuntia dejecta]]''
* ''[[Opuntia echios]]
** ''Opuntia echios'' var. ''gigantea'' – Galápagos prickly pear. [[Galápagos Islands]].
* ''[[Opuntia elata]]''
* ''[[Opuntia elatior]]'' <small>Mill.</small> – syn. ''O. bergeriana''
* ''[[Opuntia engelmannii]]'' – Engelmann's Prickly Pear, Cow's-tongue Prickly Pear, Desert Prickly Pear, Discus Prickly Pear, Texas Prickly Pear, calico cactus
* ''[[Opuntia erinacea]]''
* ''[[Opuntia exaltata]]''
* ''[[Opuntia excelsa]]''
* ''[[Opuntia ficus-barbarica]]''
* ''[[Opuntia ficus-indica]]'' – Indian Fig Opuntia
* ''[[Opuntia fragilis]]'' – [[Little Prickly Pear]], [[brittle cactus]]. Found in the Great Plains and as far west as [[British Columbia]].
* ''[[Opuntia galapageia]]''
* ''[[Opuntia gosseliniana]]'' – Violet Prickly Pear
** ''Opuntia gosseliniana'' var. ''santa-rita'' – Santa Rita Prickly Pear
* ''[[Opuntia helleri]]''
* ''[[Opuntia hickenii]]''
* ''[[Opuntia humifusa]]'' – Eastern Prickly Pear (sometimes included in ''O. compressa'')
* ''[[Opuntia hyptiacantha]]''
* ''[[Opuntia inamoema]]'' <small>K. Schum.</small> – ''[[quipá]]''
* ''[[Opuntia insularis]]''
* ''[[Opuntia invicta]]''
* ''[[Opuntia jamaicensis]]''
* ''[[Opuntia laevis]]''
* ''[[Opuntia lasiacantha]]''
* ''[[Opuntia leucotricha]]'' – Arborescent Prickly Pear, Aaron's beard cactus, semaphore cactus, ''Duraznillo blanco'', ''Nopal blanco''
* ''[[Opuntia lindheimeri]]''
* ''[[Opuntia littoralis]]'' – [[Sprawling Prickly Pear]]
* ''[[Opuntia longispina]]''
* ''[[Opuntia macbridei]]''
* ''[[Opuntia macrocentra]]'' – [[Black-spine Prickly Pear]], [[Purple Prickly Pear]]. Found in southwest USA and northern Mexico.
* ''[[Opuntia macrorhiza]]'' – [[Plains Prickly Pear]]. Found throughout the Great Plains except for the northernmost areas (not found in [[North Dakota]]), and extending sporadically eastward as far as [[Kentucky]]. Syn. ''O. leptocarpa'' <small>MacKensen</small>, ''O. tenuispina'' <small>Engelm.</small>, ''O. tortispina'' <small>Engelm. & Bigelow</small>
* ''[[Opuntia maldonandensis]]''
* ''[[Opuntia maxima]]''
* ''[[Opuntia megacantha]]''
* ''[[Opuntia megarrhiza]]''
* ''[[Opuntia megasperma]]''
* ''[[Opuntia microdasys]]'' – Bunny ears cactus, Polka-dot cactus
* ''[[Opuntia monacantha]]'' – Common Prickly Pear
* ''[[Opuntia oricola]]''
* ''[[Opuntia ovata]]''
* ''[[Opuntia pachypus]]''
* ''[[Opuntia pachyrrhiza]]''
* ''[[Opuntia phaeacantha]]'' – Tulip Prickly Pear. Includes Plateau Prickly Pear, Brown-spined Prickly Pear, Mojave Prickly Pear, Kingman Prickly Pear.
* ''[[Opuntia pinkavae]]'' – [[Pinkava's Prickly Pear]]
* ''[[Opuntia polyacantha]]'' – [[Panhandle Prickly Pear]]. Found in the Great Plains, [[Great Basin]], Mojave Desert, [[Colorado Plateau]], and the [[Rocky Mountains]]. Syn. ''O. rhodantha'' <small>K.Schum.</small>
** ''Opuntia polyacantha'' var. ''arenaria'' (syn. ''O. erinacea'')
* ''[[Opuntia pubescens]]'' (syn. ''O. pascoensis'' <small>Britton & Rose</small>)
* ''[[Opuntia pusilla]]'' – [[Creeping cactus]]. Syn. ''O. drummondii'' <small>Graham</small>
* ''[[Opuntia rastrera]]''
* ''[[Opuntia repens]]''
<!-- * ''[[Opuntia retrosa]]'' syn. for O. anacantha per http://www.f-lohmueller.de/botany/gen/o/Opuntia.htm -->
* ''[[Opuntia robusta]]''
* ''[[Opuntia rufida]]'' (sometimes included in ''O. microdasys'')
* ''[[Opuntia saxicola]]''
* ''[[Opuntia schumannii]]''
* ''[[Opuntia soehrensii]]''
* ''[[Opuntia stenopetala]]'' (syn. ''O. riviereana'' <small>Backeb.</small>)
* ''[[Opuntia streptacantha]]''
* ''[[Opuntia stricta]]'' – Erect Prickly Pear, Spineless Prickly Pear, Coastal Prickly Pear
* ''[[Opuntia subulata]]'' – found in South America
* ''[[Opuntia sulphurea]]''
* ''[[Opuntia taylori]]''
* ''[[Opuntia tehuantepecana]]'' – ''[[Nopal de Caballo]]''
* ''[[Opuntia tomentosa]]'' – [[Woollyjoint Prickly Pear]]
* ''[[Opuntia triacantha]]''
* ''[[Opuntia tuna]]''
* ''[[Opuntia velutina]]''
* ''[[Opuntia violacea]]''
==Gallery==
==Gallery==
Image:Upload.png| photo 3
Image:Upload.png| photo 3
</gallery>
</gallery>
{| class=wikitable
|-
|<!--col1-->[[Image:Prickly Pear 2.JPG|300x120px]]
|<!--col2-->[[File:Prickly pear leaf bud.JPG|400x120px]]
|<!--col3-->[[Image:Prickly Pear 2half.JPG|300x120px]]
|<!--col4-->[[File:Opuntia leaf.JPG|300x120px]]
|-
|<!--col1-->Bud appears <big>►</big>
|<!--col2-->Bud grows <big>►</big>
|<!--col3-->Bud grows more<big>►</big>
|<!--col4-->Bud grows yet more<big>►</big>
|}
{| class=wikitable
|-
|<!--col1-->[[Image:Prickly Pear 4half.JPG|300x120px]]
|<!--col2-->[[Image:Prickly Pear 5half.JPG|300x120px]]
|<!--col3-->[[Image:Prickly Pear 5.JPG|300x120px]]
|-
|<!--col1-->Pad continues growth <big>►</big>
|<!--col2-->Edible pad (tender) <big>►</big>
|<!--col3-->Mature pad
|}
==References==
==References==
