Opuntia humifusa Those recognizing this species treat "Opuntia rafinesquii" as a junior synonym. This plant is very intolerant of shade. It thrives in full sun in hot and dry environments and needs well-drained soil. Opuntia humifusa will grow in open or exposed areas in rocky and coastal scrub habits as well as at elevations where winter hardy. Opuntia humifusa Opuntia humifusa, commonly known as the devil's-tongue, eastern prickly pear or Indian fig, is a cactus native to parts of eastern North America. As is the case in other "Opuntia" species, the green stems of this low-growing perennial cactus are flattened, and are
Opuntia ficus-indica the plants are used as fodder. In these cases, the spines need to be removed from the pads to avoid damage to the animals. Mostly, this is achieved by burning the spines off the pads. "Opuntia ficus-indica" for human and animal consumption is its water content in an arid environment, containing about 85% water as a water source for wildlife. The seeds contain 3-10% of protein and 6-13% of fatty acids, mainly linoleic acid. As the fruit contains vitamin C (containing 25–30 mg per 100g), it was once used to mitigate scurvy. "Opuntia" contains selenium. The red color of the