Prickly pear comes from various species of the Opuntia cactus, a plant native to the Americas. Its fruit grows from the flat pads of the cactus and is recognized for its vibrant skin, which can ...

Discover how the cochineal insect's red dye influenced civilizations, from the Aztecs to the British redcoats.

The Florida Entomologist, Vol. 84, No. 4 (Dec., 2001), pp. 493-498 (6 pages) In Mexico, cactus pears (Opuntia spp.) are regarded as very important plants, especially in semi-arid and arid regions ...

Nopales are the pads or leaves of the nopal cactus or the prickly pear (botanical name, Opuntia ficus-indica) and are usually eaten as vegetables; the edible cactus fruit is called tuna.