Brasiliopuntia brasiliensis aka Brazilian Pricklypear

Brasiliopuntia brasiliensis is a tree-shaped cactus in the Cactaceae family. Gardeners may also find it named Opuntia brasiliensis. Its native range spans Brazil, Peru, Bolivia, Paraguay and northern Argentina. It grows in coastal woods and dry inland forests. Some plants grow near streams that dry out each year. Others root in deep sand or among rocks. Its habitats reach 3,280 feet [1,000 metres] above sea level.

The plant keeps green growth through the year. Reported heights range from 10–33 feet [3–10 metres]. Large plants can exceed 66 feet [20 metres]. A straight, slim, woody trunk gives it a tree form. Short side branches spread outward or slope down. These branches become shorter toward the top of the plant. The round branches end in thin, flat, green cladodes. These look like leaves, but they are stem parts. The true leaves are small, fleshy, and soon fall. Old trunks may stay bare or carry groups of spines.

Mature plants flower from spring into summer. The blooms open during the day near the cladode edges. Their shallow cups range from lemon yellow to pale brown. Fruits may be round, long, or shaped like pears. Their colours include yellow, orange-red, red, and purple. Each fruit holds one to five large seeds. People eat the raw fruit as a local snack. The fruit also carries clusters of tiny, barbed glochids. These break off on contact and lodge in skin. They can cause pain and are hard to remove.

This cactus grows in summer and tolerates very hot weather. It accepts varied soils where excess water drains away. It withstands drought but grows with regular watering. Let the soil dry between waterings in pots. Cold, damp conditions can cause root rot. Frost tolerance is poor, though dry plants may survive about −2°C. LLIFLE advises keeping cultivated plants above 10°C to limit skin marks. Gardeners grow it as an ornamental tree or hedge. Cuttings and seeds provide ways to raise new plants.

People also gather this cactus for traditional medicinal uses. Reported uses include fruit poultices for sciatica pain. Root and cladode juice has served as a fever remedy. These reports do not establish that the treatments work. Habitat loss has reduced some wild populations in Brazil. Yet its broad range supports a Least Concern conservation status. Useful Tropical Plants also flags the species as having weed potential.