Opuntia also native to sandy coastal beach scrub environments of the East Coast from Florida to southern Connecticut ("Opuntia humifusa"). "Opuntia" species are the most cold-tolerant of the lowland cacti, extending into western and southern Canada; one subspecies, "O. 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. Prickly pears also produce a fruit, commonly eaten in Mexico and in the Mediterranean region, known as "tuna"; it also is used to make "aguas frescas". The fruit can be red, wine-red, green,
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