Opuntia cacanapa Opuntia cacanapa Opuntia cacanapa is a cactus in the "Opuntia" genus. In the United States it is found on the South Texas Plains in Brewster County and adjacent counties to the southeast. It also occurs in nearby Mexico. The plants are variable in size, but can form shrubby trees from 1 to 2 m tall. They grow intermixed with other shrubs and small trees. The glaucous pads are pale and not dark green. Cladodes are 15 to 20 cm long and may be elliptical, obovate, or even subcircular. The flowers are a rich, canary yellow and have a prominent green
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