Opuntia stricta aka Erect Prickly Pear

Opuntia stricta, or erect prickly pear, is in the cactus family. Kew gives its native range as southwestern Louisiana to southeastern Texas. It grows in a subtropical climate. Useful Tropical Plants takes a broader view of the species. It includes plants also known as Opuntia dillenii. That account lists dunes by the coast as its habitat. It also lists sites near sea level. These include shell middens, or heaps of shells, and coastal wood edges.

This cactus stays green and forms a shrub with fleshy stem pads. It can spread low or grow upright. Broad clumps seldom rise above about 2.6 feet [0.8 metres]. The supplied height summary gives about 3.3 feet [1 metre]. Some forms grow clear trunks and reach much greater heights. These forms reach 6.6–9.8 feet [2–3 metres]. Plants vary a lot in how many spines they bear. Some have none, while others have many. Tiny barbed bristles, called glochids, pose a separate risk when handling plants.

Bees and other insects carry pollen between the flowers. The supplied species account gives no bloom season or flower colour. The pear-shaped fruit turns purplish as it ripens. It can reach about 0.25 feet [0.075 metres] long. The account says the fruit has no spines. Its flesh has little taste but holds plenty of juice. People eat it fresh or make syrup and preserves. People also eat young pads, either raw or cooked. They boil strips of pad or dry them for later use.

Growers have planted this cactus in tropical and subtropical regions. They also grow it in warm temperate areas. People use it for hedges and living fences. It helps hold dune sand in place, too. People also grow it for its looks. In southern China, it grows on rocks and sandy ground. It has also spread into thickets there without help from people. People have used the fruit to make red dye for hemp rope. They also use seed oil in skin-care products.

Handle this plant with care, even when it has no larger spines. Glochids break loose when touched and stick in skin. Their barbs make them hard to find and pull out. They can cause marked skin soreness and pain. The account also lists fruits and pads as parts used in folk medicine. These reports do not prove that such treatments work. Useful Tropical Plants reports its status as Least Concern. This comes from the 2017 IUCN assessment.