Opuntia the Americas. Through human actions, they have since been introduced to many other areas of the world. Prickly pear species are found in abundance in Mexico, especially in the central and western regions, and in the Caribbean islands (West Indies). In the United States, prickly pears are native to many areas of the arid, semi-arid, and drought-prone Western and South Central United States, including the lower elevations of the Rocky Mountains and southern Great Plains, where species such as "Opuntia phaeacantha" and "Opuntia polyacantha" become dominant, and to the desert Southwest, where several types are endemic. Prickly pear cactus is
Opuntia (seedless) cultivars are also available. In Mexico, prickly pears are often used to make appetizers, soups, and salads through entrees, vegetable dishes, and breads to desserts, beverages, candy, jelly, or drinks. The young stem segments, usually called "nopales", are also edible in most species of "Opuntia". They are commonly used in Mexican cuisine in dishes such as "huevos con nopales" (eggs with nopal), or "tacos de nopales". "Nopales" are also an important ingredient in New Mexican cuisine. "Opuntia ficus-indica" has been introduced to Europe, and flourishes in areas with a suitable climate, such as the south of France and southern