PRICKLY PEAR
Common Names: Prickly Pear, Indian Fig, Pear Cactus.
Scientific Name: Opuntia genus
When to Find: All year for pads. Fall for fruit.
Where to Find: Desert, seashore, pastures, mountains, and rocky slopes.
Parts Used: Pads, fruit.
Preparation: Scrape off thorns and prickles with knife, or singe over flame. Cook pads as vegetables. Eat fruit fresh. Make poultice of mashed pulp to speed healing of wounds.
Storage: Pickle pod. Make syrup from fruit.
Identification: Deep red fruit. Yellow flowers on joined pads 3 to 6 inches long. Plants often found in large low clumps.
