NOPALES 'Green' --Opuntia cacanapa--

Pretty round-paddled cactus, in solid green. Found natively throughout Mexico and the southern US including Texas. Nopales are heavily cultivated throughout Central America as a vegetable, and with historical medicinal usage to reduce inflammation and are loaded with potassium, magnesium, calcium, manganese, copper, zinc and iron, as well as thiamine, lutein, niacin, riboflavin and beta-carotene. Was also used as a host for the Cochineal insect that provided a brilliant red coloring used in cosmetics and fabric dyes. Paddles are small and thin, 3-4" long. Flowers are orange to red and are pollinated by hummingbirds. Scrape or burn the small spine clusters (glochids) off the paddles and cook like okra or squash - second image shows pre-cooking prepped paddles. Great addition to tacos, soups, etc. Suitable for container, water sparingly and plant in very well draining soil.