Prickly Pear Cactus
Prickly pear cactus (Opuntia ficus-indica = Opuntia maxima, Cactaceae)
Ibicencan: figuera de moro, figuera de pic, figuera dindi
French: figuier de Barbarie
Russian: цабр
The cactuses of the Mexican genus Opuntia are rarely found in the wild on Ibiza, mainly in gardens. It is common that near a house on the country side there are prickly pear cactuses.
They produce edible fruits, the prickly pears, this species in particular. The stems can be eaten as a vegetable. The fruits have antidierretic effects. In Mexico a syrup is made as a remedy against cough: Sliced fruits with brown sugar are left for about ten hours, what leads to a liquid.
On Ibiza tea from the petals is known as a remedy for stomach ache.
