Opuntia including antelopes, non-human primates, elephants, birds, and humans. When Carl Linnaeus published "Species Plantarum" in 1753 – the starting point for modern botanical nomenclature – he placed all the species of cactus known to him in one genus, "Cactus". In 1754, the Scottish botanist Philip Miller divided cacti into several genera, including "Opuntia". He distinguished the genus largely on the form of its flowers and fruits. There is considerable variation of taxonomy within "Opuntia" species, resulting in names being created for variants or subtypes within a species, and use of DNA sequencing to define and isolate various species. "Opuntia" hybridizes
Opuntia ficus-indica limit of prickly pear is above 50 °C. As the fruits of Opuntia ficus-indica are delicate, they need to be carefully harvested by hand. The small spines on the fruits are removed by rubbing them on an abrasive surface or sweeping them through grass. Before consumption, they are peeled and sliced. The pads of the plant (mainly used as fodder) also need to be harvested by hand. The pads are cut with a knife, detaching the pad from the plant in the joint. If Opuntia ficus-indica is cultivated for forage production, spineless cultivars are preferred. However, also wild types of