Opuntia

Opuntia is a genus of flowering plants in the cactus family Cactaceae, commonly known as prickly pears or nopales. The genus comprises roughly 200 species and is characterized by flat, fleshy stem segments called cladodes or pads. These pads bear areoles with spines or glochids, and many species produce showy flowers followed by edible fruits known as tunas. The pads themselves are edible in some cuisines when prepared as nopales.

Opuntia is native to the Americas, with a range extending from Patagonia to the southwestern United States and Mexico. It has been introduced to arid and semi-arid regions worldwide. The plants are well adapted to drought and heat, largely due to Crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) photosynthesis. They tolerate poor soils and intense sunlight, and many species are cultivated as ornamentals, forage, or fruit crops. Opuntia ficus-indica is among the most widely cultivated species for its edible fruit and pads.

In human use, cochineal insects (Dactylopius coccus) feed on Opuntia and have historically been used to produce carmine dye. Some non-native Opuntia species have become invasive in areas such as Australia, where their management prompted the use of biological control methods, notably the cactus moth Cactoblastis cactorum.

Taxonomically, Opuntia is placed in the subfamily Opuntioideae within Cactaceae. The genus exhibits considerable variation, including spineless or reduced-spine forms in cultivated varieties.