{{Short description|Species of cactus}} {{speciesbox |name = Eastern prickly pear |image = Prickly pear MN 2007.JPG |image_caption = |genus = Opuntia |species = humifusa |status = LC |status_system = IUCN3.1 |status_ref = <ref>Majure, L. 2017. ''Opuntia humifusa'' (amended version of 2013 assessment). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2017: e.T152374A121591012. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T152374A121591012.en. Downloaded on 19 June 2021.</ref> |authority = (Raf.) Raf. }} [[File:Opuntia humifusa at Welwyn.JPG|thumb|Fruiting by the beach at [[Welwyn Preserve]]]]
'''''Opuntia humifusa''''', [[common name|commonly known]] as the '''devil's-tongue''',<ref>{{PLANTS|id=OPHU|taxon=''Opuntia humifusa''|access-date=23 July 2015}}</ref> '''eastern prickly pear''' or '''Indian fig''', is a [[cactus]] of the genus ''[[Opuntia]]'' present in parts of the [[eastern United States]], southeastern [[Canada]], and northeastern [[Mexico]].<ref name="POWO_136679-1">{{cite web |title=''Opuntia humifusa'' (Raf.) Raf.. |work=Plants of the World Online |publisher=Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew|url=https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:136679-1 |access-date=2023-01-26 }}</ref>
==Description== As is the case in other ''[[Opuntia]]'' species, the green stems of this low-growing [[Perennial plant|perennial]] cactus are flattened, and are formed of segments. [[glochid|Barbed bristles]] are found around the surfaces of the segments, and longer spines are sometimes present.<ref>{{citation | contribution = 4. ''Opuntia humifusa'' | contribution-url = http://efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=242415184 | title = Flora of North America }}</ref> The flowers are yellow to gold in color, and are found along the margins of mature segments. The flowers are waxy and sometimes have red centers. They measure {{convert|4|–|6|cm|in|abbr=on|frac=8}} across. This cactus blooms in the late spring.
The juicy red or purple [[fruit]]s measure from {{convert|3|–|5|cm|in|abbr=on|frac=8}}. As the fruit matures, it changes color from green to red, and often remains on the cactus until the following spring. There are 6 to 33 small, flat, light-colored [[seed]]s in each fruit.
==Taxonomy== Some botanists treat this cactus as a variety of ''[[Opuntia compressa|O. compressa]]'': hence ''O. c.'' var. ''humifusa'', or a synonym of ''O. compressa''. Those recognizing this species treat ''[[Opuntia rafinesquii|O. rafinesquii]]'' as a junior synonym.
==Distribution== This species naturally occurs along the East Coast of the United States, including on barrier islands from the [[Florida Keys]] to coastal [[Massachusetts]].<ref>{{cite report|title=Eastern Prickly Pear ''Opuntia humifusa''|publisher=Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program, Massachusetts Division of Fisheries & Wildlife|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180921080846/https://www.mass.gov/files/documents/2016/09/qd/opuntia-humifusa-2015.pdf|archive-date=September 21, 2018|url=https://www.mass.gov/files/documents/2016/09/qd/opuntia-humifusa-2015.pdf}}</ref> Eastern prickly pear is found in scattered locations from [[New Mexico]] and [[Montana]] eastward,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/opuntia-humifusa/|title=Opuntia humifusa (Eastern Prickly Pear Cactus) | North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox|website=Plants.ces.ncsu.edu|access-date=24 June 2022}}</ref> and is one of two cactus species native to the eastern United States, along with the related ''[[Opuntia cespitosa|O. cespitosa]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=ophu|title=Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center - The University of Texas at Austin|website=Wildflower.org|access-date=24 June 2022}}</ref> Since eastern prickly pear grows in hot, sunny locations with thin soil that does not hold water, it is found in shale barrens, which are accumulations of thin, flat, eroded sedimentary rock on steep slopes with southern exposures{{snd}}essentially a desert [[microclimate]]{{snd}}in the [[Appalachian Mountains]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://carnegiemnh.org/cactuses-and-the-spine-of-appalachia/|title=Cactuses, and the Spine of Appalachia|date=17 July 2018|website=Carnegie Museum of Natural History|access-date=24 June 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.conservationgateway.org/ConservationByGeography/NorthAmerica/UnitedStates/edc/Documents/HabitatGuides/13.pdf|title=Appalachian Shale Barrens |website=Conservationgateway.org|access-date=24 June 2022}}</ref>
In Canada, the species grows naturally in small pockets of [[Southern Ontario]], along the banks of [[Lake Erie]].
==Habitat== This plant is very intolerant of shade and instead thrives in sunny, hot and dry environments with well-draining, sandy [[soil]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://wildlife-species.canada.ca/species-risk-registry/species/speciesDetails_e.cfm?sid=188|title=Species Profile (Eastern Prickly Pear Cactus) - Species at Risk Public Registry|website=Wildlife-species.canada.ca|access-date=2020-04-15}}</ref> ''O. humifusa'' will grow in open areas in sandy, rocky and coastal scrub habitats. It is capable of surviving cool winters unlike many cacti, although harsh winter storms are known to cause habitat loss.<ref name=":0" />
== Uses == The fruits are edible,<ref>{{cite book|last1=Niering|first1=William A.|title=The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Wildflowers, Eastern Region|last2=Olmstead|first2=Nancy C.|publisher=Knopf|year=1985|isbn=0-394-50432-1|page=436|author-link1=William Niering|orig-year=1979}}</ref> but have small spiny bristles. The pulp can be scooped and the seeds strained out to make syrup or jelly. The seeds can be briefly roasted and ground into meal.<ref name=":1">{{Cite book|last1=Elias|first1=Thomas S.|title=Edible Wild Plants: A North American Field Guide to Over 200 Natural Foods|last2=Dykeman|first2=Peter A.|publisher=[[Sterling Publishing|Sterling]]|year=2009|isbn=978-1-4027-6715-9|location=New York|pages=139|oclc=244766414|orig-year=1982}}</ref> Young cactus segments can be roasted to remove spines, then peeled and sliced to be eaten like string beans; alternatively, they can be deep fried. The leafy segments can be peeled and chewed for emergency hydration.<ref name=":1" />
''Opuntia humifusa'' has also provided traditional medicine uses in Indian, American, Mexican, and Korean cultures.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Sharma |first1=Bhesh Raj |first2=Chul Min |last2=Park |first3=Jong |last3=Won Choi |first4=Dong Young |last4=Rhyu |date=2017 |title=Anti-nociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects of the methanolic extract of ''Opuntia humifusa'' stem |journal=Avicenna Journal of Phytomedicine |volume=7 |issue=4 |pages=366–375 |pmc=5580874 |pmid=28884086}}</ref> The stem produces an extract that is high in concentrations of [[polyphenol]]s and [[flavonoid]]s. It has also been found that ''Opuntia humifusa'' has been associated with [[Endophyte|endophytic]] fungi.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Silva-Hughes |first1=Alice F. |last2=Wedge |first2=David E. |last3=Cantrell |first3=Charles L. |last4=Carvalho |first4=Camila R. |last5=Pan |first5=Zhiqiang |last6=Moraes |first6=Rita M. |last7=Madoxx |first7=Victor L. |last8=Rosa |first8=Luiz H. |title=Diversity and antifungal activity of the endophytic fungi associated with the native medicinal cactus ''Opuntia humifusa'' (Cactaceae) from the United States |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0944501315000488 |journal=Microbiological Research |volume=175 |date=2015 |pages=67–77 |doi=10.1016/j.micres.2015.03.007|url-access=subscription }}</ref>
== Gallery == <gallery class="center"> Eastern prickly pear fruit.jpg|Fruit in South Carolina File:OpuntiaHumifusahabitatCT.png|Growing wild in coastal habitat, Milford Connecticut Opuntia humifusa Ottawa IL.jpg|Growing wild in northern Illinois (partial shade) Eastern Prickly Pear Cactus Spines.jpg|Close-up of yellow [[glochid|barbed bristle]]s and longer spines File:YoungOpuntiaHumifusaCT.png|Seedling; notice the larger spines 2017-05-29 14 25 22 Eastern Prickly Pear cactus blossoms along Ladybank Lane in the Chantilly Highlands section of Oak Hill, Fairfax County, Virginia.jpg|Flowers </gallery>
== References == {{Reflist}}
== External links == * {{Commons category-inline|Opuntia humifusa}} * [https://winterhardycacti.blogspot.com/2006/09/flowering-opuntia-humifusa.html Flowering ''Opuntia humifusa''] * [http://sararegistry.gc.ca/document/doc1951p/ind_e.cfm Canadian government recovery strategy for Eastern Prickly Pear] * [https://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/plants/ornamentals/prickly-pear.html University of Florida - Gardening Solutions - Prickly pear] * [https://bioimages.vanderbilt.edu/tsn/19710 ''Opuntia humifusa'' images at bioimages.vanderbilt.edu] * [https://www.opuntiads.com/opuntia-humifusa/ Opuntia humifusa photo gallery at Opuntia Web]
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[[Category:Opuntia|humifusa]] [[Category:Cacti of the United States]] [[Category:Edible plants]] [[Category:Flora of Northern America]] [[Category:Plants described in 1820]] [[Category:Flora of South Dakota]]