"Opuntia engelmannii Opuntia engelmannii is a prickly pear common across the south-central and Southwestern United States and northern Mexico. It goes by a variety of common names, including cow's tongue cactus, cow tongue prickly pear, desert prickly pear, discus prickly pear, Engelmann's prickly pear, and Texas prickly pear in the US, and nopal, abrojo, joconostle, and vela de coyote in Mexico. The nomenclatural history of this species is somewhat complicated due to the varieties, as well as its habit of hybridizing with ""Opuntia phaeacantha"". The ""Opuntia engelmannii"" range extends from California to Louisiana in the United States, and from Sonora"
"Opuntia Opuntia, commonly called prickly pear, is a genus in the cactus family, ""Cactaceae"". Prickly pears are also known as ""tuna"" (fruit), ""sabra"", ""nopal"" (paddle, plural ""nopales"") from the Nahuatl word ""nōpalli"" for the pads, or nostle, from the Nahuatl word ""nōchtli"" for the fruit; or paddle cactus. The genus is named for the Ancient Greek city of Opus, where, according to Theophrastus, an edible plant grew and could be propagated by rooting its leaves. The most common culinary species is the Indian fig opuntia (""O. ficus-indica""). ""O. ficus-indica"" is a large trunk-forming segmented cactus which may grow to with"
"the Americas. Through human actions, they have since been introduced to many other areas of the world. Prickly pear species are found in abundance in Mexico, especially in the central and western regions, and in the Caribbean islands (West Indies). In the United States, prickly pears are native to many areas of the arid, semi-arid, and drought-prone Western and South Central United States, including the lower elevations of the Rocky Mountains and southern Great Plains, where species such as ""Opuntia phaeacantha"" and ""Opuntia polyacantha"" become dominant, and to the desert Southwest, where several types are endemic. Prickly pear cactus is"
"the others, rarely an inch in length: flowers greenish yellow, 1-1¼ inches wide: fruit ovate to subglobose. with few spines or bristles, mostly sterile, an inch or less long; seeds few and large. Rocky Mountain region from Canada to New Mexico. Opuntia fragilis Opuntia fragilis, known by the common names brittle pricklypear and little prickly pear, is a prickly pear cactus native to much of western North America as well as some eastern states such as Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin and Michigan. It occurs in several Canadian provinces. It is known from farther north than any other cactus, occurring at as"
"in the United States. This was dubbed the ""Cactus Curtain"", an allusion to Europe's Iron Curtain and the Bamboo Curtain in East Asia. Opuntia Opuntia, commonly called prickly pear, is a genus in the cactus family, ""Cactaceae"". Prickly pears are also known as ""tuna"" (fruit), ""sabra"", ""nopal"" (paddle, plural ""nopales"") from the Nahuatl word ""nōpalli"" for the pads, or nostle, from the Nahuatl word ""nōchtli"" for the fruit; or paddle cactus. The genus is named for the Ancient Greek city of Opus, where, according to Theophrastus, an edible plant grew and could be propagated by rooting its leaves. The most"
"a crown of possibly in diameter and a trunk diameter of . Cladodes (large pads) are green to blue-green, bearing few spines up to or may be spineless. Prickly pears typically grow with flat, rounded cladodes (also called platyclades) containing large, smooth, fixed spines and small, hairlike prickles called glochids that readily adhere to skin or hair, then detach from the plant. The flowers are typically large, axillary, solitary, bisexual, and epiperigynous, with a perianth consisting of distinct, spirally arranged tepals and a hypanthium. The stamens are numerous and in spiral or whorled clusters, and the gynoecium has numerous inferior"
"Prickly pears in Australia Prickly pears (Genus ""Opuntia"") are an invasive plant species in Australia. Prickly pears (mostly ""Opuntia stricta"") were imported into Australia in the 19th century for use as a natural agricultural fence and in an attempt to establish a cochineal dye industry. Many of these, especially the Tiger Pear, quickly became widespread invasive species, rendering of farming land unproductive. The moth ""Cactoblastis cactorum"" from South America, whose larvae eat prickly pear, was introduced in 1925 and almost wiped out the population. This case is often cited as an example of successful biological pest control. In the early"
"tall. The branches are made up of oval-shaped flat segments up to long. It is covered in clusters of yellowish spines long. The flowers are pale yellow to dull red occurring in May to June. The fruit is purplish red and up to long. The fruit is edible. Opuntia littoralis Opuntia littoralis is a species of prickly pear cactus known by the common name coastal pricklypear. It is sometimes called the sprawling prickly pear due to its short stems and habit of growing close to the ground. """"Littoral"""" means ""pertaining to the seashore"". ""Opuntia littoralis"" is native to southern California"
"it means a completed action. Chenille prickly pear, one of its vernacular names, comes for the fringe of spines around the edge of the pad. The specific name also means ""covered with small pins"". This plant grows numerous stems covered with spines. The stems have segments partly rounded at the apex. They are faded and dull grey-green, more or less glaucous. They measure 10–20 cm in length. The leaves are acicular and ephemeral. The aeroles are often spineless with symmetrical regularity of them on the body. They are large, widely separated. It has numerous glochids or microspines, 3–12 mm long,"
"or gravelly soils. It is one of the shorter species of the genus, rarely over 30 cm (1 foot) tall, spreading horizontally and forming large clumps. Flowers are showy and bright yellow, sometimes with red markings near the base of the petals. Fruits are narrow, red, juicy and edible. Several varieties have proposed within the species. More study is needed to determine whether these should continue to be recognized as varieties, elevated to species status, or regarded as mere synonyms. Opuntia macrorhiza Opuntia macrorhiza is a common and widespread species of cactus with the common names plains prickly pear or"
"spread from New South Wales and caused great ecological damage in the eastern states. They are also found in the Mediterranean region of Northern Africa, especially in Tunisia, where they grow all over the countryside, and in parts of southern Europe, especially Spain, where they grow in the east, south-east and south of the country, and also in Malta, where they grow all over the islands. They can be found in enormous numbers in parts of South Africa, where they were introduced from South America. Prickly pears are considered an invasive species in Australia, Ethiopia, South Africa, and Hawaii, among"
"Pear The pear () tree and shrub are a species of genus Pyrus , in the family Rosaceae, bearing the pomaceous fruit of the same name. Several species of pear are valued for their edible fruit and juices while others are cultivated as trees. The word ""pear"" is probably from Germanic ""pera"" as a loanword of Vulgar Latin ""pira"", the plural of ""pirum"", akin to Greek ""apios"" (from Mycenaean ""ápisos""), of Semitic origin (""pirâ""), meaning ""fruit"". The adjective ""pyriform"" or ""piriform"" means pear-shaped. The pear is native to coastal and mildly temperate regions of the Old World, from western Europe"
"Opuntia fragilis Opuntia fragilis, known by the common names brittle pricklypear and little prickly pear, is a prickly pear cactus native to much of western North America as well as some eastern states such as Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin and Michigan. It occurs in several Canadian provinces. It is known from farther north than any other cactus, occurring at as far as 56°N latitude in British Columbia. There is an isolated and possibly genetically unique population in Eastern Ontario known as the ""Kaladar population"". Brittle pricklypear is a small decumbent cactus that grows to a maximum height of 10 centimeters (4"
"Opuntia cespitosa Opuntia cespitosa, commonly called the eastern prickly pear, is a species of cactus native to North America. It most common west of the Appalachian Mountains and east of the Mississippi River, where it is found in the Midwest, Upper South and in Ontario. Its natural habitat is in dry, open areas, such as outcrops, glades, and barrens. ""Opuntia cespitosa"" is a prostrate succulent shrub, usually no more than 1-2 segments tall. It has large white spines, and a low layer of reddish-brown glochids, which break off in the skin if touched. It produces a yellow and red flower"
"also native to sandy coastal beach scrub environments of the East Coast from Florida to southern Connecticut (""Opuntia humifusa""). ""Opuntia"" species are the most cold-tolerant of the lowland cacti, extending into western and southern Canada; one subspecies, ""O. fragilis"" var. ""fragilis"", has been found growing along the Beatton River in central British Columbia, southwest of Cecil Lake at 56° 17’ N latitude and 120° 39’ W longitude. Prickly pears also produce a fruit, commonly eaten in Mexico and in the Mediterranean region, known as ""tuna""; it also is used to make ""aguas frescas"". The fruit can be red, wine-red, green,"
"Cacopsylla pyricola Cacopsylla pyricola, commonly known as the pear sucker, is a true bug in the family Psyllidae and is a pest of pear trees (""Pyrus""). It originated in Europe, was introduced to the United States in the early nineteenth century and spread across the country in the next century. The eggs are tiny, stalked, oval, and cream to yellow, darkening before they hatch. The first instar nymphs are yellowish or pinkish and flattened, but later instars are greenish to dark brown, with distinctive red eyes and developing wing buds. The edges of the buds bear three to five knobbed"
"in late spring. This species was historically included in a broadly-defined ""Opuntia humifusa"" group, which is found further to the east. ""Opuntia cespitosa"" differs from ""Opuntia humifusa"" in its flowers having a red center. Opuntia cespitosa Opuntia cespitosa, commonly called the eastern prickly pear, is a species of cactus native to North America. It most common west of the Appalachian Mountains and east of the Mississippi River, where it is found in the Midwest, Upper South and in Ontario. Its natural habitat is in dry, open areas, such as outcrops, glades, and barrens. ""Opuntia cespitosa"" is a prostrate succulent shrub,"
"Opuntia macrorhiza Opuntia macrorhiza is a common and widespread species of cactus with the common names plains prickly pear or twistspine pricklypear or Western pricklypear. It is found throughout the Great Plains of the United States, from Texas to Minnesota, as well as in the desert and Rocky Mountain states from Arizona to Idaho, with sporadic populations in the Mississippi and Ohio Valleys. It is also reported from northern Mexico, in the states of Chihuahua, Sonora, Coahuila, Nuevo León, Durango, Tamaulipas, and San Luís Potosí. The species is cultivated as an ornamental in other locations. The species prefers dry, sandy"
"Opuntia littoralis Opuntia littoralis is a species of prickly pear cactus known by the common name coastal pricklypear. It is sometimes called the sprawling prickly pear due to its short stems and habit of growing close to the ground. """"Littoral"""" means ""pertaining to the seashore"". ""Opuntia littoralis"" is native to southern California and Baja California, where it grows in coastal sage scrub and chaparral habitats. The cactus is variable in appearance; there are several varieties and hybrids with similar species are commonly found. ""Opuntia littoralis"" generally grows in dense clumps spreading several meters wide and up to a meter-3 feet"
"Opuntia gosseliniana Opuntia gosseliniana, commonly known as the violet pricklypear, is a species of cactus that is native to Pima County, Arizona in the United States and Baja California, Chihuahua, and Sonora in Mexico. Like most prickly pears, the pads are flat. Unlike most prickly pears, they have a violet, pink, or red tinge, hence the name. The cactus reaches mature heights of one to five feet and blooms either yellow or red. Different authorities disagree on the division of plants into ""Opuntia chlorotica"", ""Opuntia violacea"", ""Opuntia gosseliniana"", ""Opuntia macrocentra"", and perhaps others. To complicate the issue, there are numerous"
"Psylla pyri Psylla pyri, commonly known as the pear psylla or pear psyllid, is a true bug in the family Psyllidae. Originating in Europe and Asia, it has spread to North America. It is a pest of pear trees, sucking the sap, damaging the foliage, flowers and fruit and diminishing the crop. The adult ""Psylla pyri"" is between long. The colour is variable, ranging between orange-red and black, the thorax having whitish longitudinal stripes on its upper surface. The wings are transparent, with dark veins and sometimes a smoky appearance near the base. Later instar nymphs are purplish-brown or reddish-brown,"
"to 6 centimeters long. It was common along the coasts and adjacent inland areas of California, but development has reduced its populations. Opuntia oricola Opuntia oricola is a species of prickly pear cactus known by the common name chaparral prickly pear. It is native to southern California and Baja California, where it grows in coastal sage scrub and chaparral habitats. ""Opuntia oricola"" is a large treelike cactus often exceeding 2 meters in height. The branches are made up of rounded flat segments up to 25 centimeters long. It is covered in clusters of curved, yellowish spines usually around 2 centimeters"
"Pyrus salicifolia Pyrus salicifolia is a species of pear, native to the Middle East. It is widely grown as an ornamental tree, almost always as a pendulous (or ""weeping"") cultivar, and is called by various common names, including willow-leaved pear, weeping pear, and similar. The tree is deciduous and of comparatively small stature, rarely reaching 10–12 meters in height. The crown is rounded. It has pendulous, silvery foliage, superficially similar to a weeping willow. The flowers are large and pure white highlighted with black-tipped stamens although the buds are tipped with red. The small green fruits are inedible, being hard"
"Opuntia oricola Opuntia oricola is a species of prickly pear cactus known by the common name chaparral prickly pear. It is native to southern California and Baja California, where it grows in coastal sage scrub and chaparral habitats. ""Opuntia oricola"" is a large treelike cactus often exceeding 2 meters in height. The branches are made up of rounded flat segments up to 25 centimeters long. It is covered in clusters of curved, yellowish spines usually around 2 centimeters long. The flowers are yellow, sometimes orange-tinged. The spherical fruit is purplish red on the outside, whitish and juicy inside, and up"
"groups. Most of the cultivars belong to the ""Akanashi"" ('Russet pears') group, and have yellowish-brown rinds. The ""Aonashi"" ('Green pears') have yellow-green rinds. Important cultivars include: Pyrus pyrifolia Pyrus pyrifolia is a species of pear tree native to East Asia. The tree's edible fruit is known by many names, including: Asian pear, Chinese pear, Korean pear, Japanese pear, Taiwanese pear, zodiac pear, and sand pear. Along with cultivars of ""P. × bretschneideri"" and ""P. ussuriensis"", the fruit is also called the nashi pear. Cultivars derived from ""Pyrus pyrifolia"" are grown throughout East Asia, and in other countries such as India,"
"into showy white-petalled flowers which may be up to 16 centimeters wide. The fruit is a capsule up to 4.5 centimeters long which is covered in prickles. There are two subspecies of this plant. The Sacramento prickly poppy has traditionally been recognized as a third subspecies, ""A. p."" ssp. ""pinnatisecta"", but was recently raised to specific rank based on genetic analyses. This is a rare species known only from the western slope of the Sacramento Mountains in New Mexico. It is treated as a federally listed endangered species in the United States. Argemone pleiacantha Argemone pleiacantha is a species of"
"petals. Like that of the related apple, the pear fruit is a pome, in most wild species diameter, but in some cultivated forms up to long and broad; the shape varies in most species from oblate or globose, to the classic pyriform 'pear-shape' of the European pear with an elongated basal portion and a bulbous end. The fruit is composed of the receptacle or upper end of the flower-stalk (the so-called calyx tube) greatly dilated. Enclosed within its cellular flesh is the true fruit: five cartilaginous carpels, known colloquially as the ""core"". From the upper rim of the receptacle are"
"4 millimeters in length with a broad notch on one side and prominent ridge. Because of its striking stem and bloom color the ""Opuntia macrocentra"" cactus is cultivated as an ornamental plant for drought tolerant and native plant gardens, and as a potted plant. Like many other cacti in the ""Opuntia"" genus, the fruit produced by ""Opuntia macrocentra"" is edible. Collection of this cactus, and its fruit, is restricted in some areas for conservation needs. Opuntia macrocentra Opuntia macrocentra, the long-spined purplish prickly pear or purple pricklypear, is a cactus found in the lower Southwestern United States and Northwestern Mexico."
"(""Pyrus calleryana"" 'Bradford') in particular has become widespread in North America, and is used only as an ornamental tree, as well as a blight-resistant rootstock for ""Pyrus communis"" fruit orchards. The Willow-leaved pear (""Pyrus salicifolia"") is grown for its attractive, slender, densely silvery-hairy leaves. The following cultivars have gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit:- The purely decorative cultivar ""P. salicifolia"" ‘Pendula’, with pendulous branches and silvery leaves, has also won the award. Summer and autumn cultivars of ""Pyrus communis"", being climacteric fruits, are gathered before they are fully ripe, while they are still green, but snap off"
"Pyrus × bretschneideri Pyrus"" × ""bretschneideri (or ""Pyrus"" ×""bretschneideri""), the ya pear or pearple or Chinese white pear (), is an interspecific hybrid species of pear native to North China, where it is widely grown for its edible fruit. Recent molecular genetic evidence confirms some relationship to the Siberian pear (""Pyrus ussuriensis""), but it can also be classified as a subspecies of the Chinese pear ""Pyrus pyrifolia"". Along with cultivars of ""P. pyrifolia"" and ""P. ussuriensis"", the fruit is also called the nashi pear. These very juicy, white to light yellow pears, unlike the round Nashi pears (""P. pyrifolia"") that"
"species ""P."" ×""bretschneideri"". Cultivar 'PremP109', also called 'Prem 109', is such a hybrid, marketed under the trademark Papple. Pyrus × bretschneideri Pyrus"" × ""bretschneideri (or ""Pyrus"" ×""bretschneideri""), the ya pear or pearple or Chinese white pear (), is an interspecific hybrid species of pear native to North China, where it is widely grown for its edible fruit. Recent molecular genetic evidence confirms some relationship to the Siberian pear (""Pyrus ussuriensis""), but it can also be classified as a subspecies of the Chinese pear ""Pyrus pyrifolia"". Along with cultivars of ""P. pyrifolia"" and ""P. ussuriensis"", the fruit is also called the"
"Pyrus pyrifolia Pyrus pyrifolia is a species of pear tree native to East Asia. The tree's edible fruit is known by many names, including: Asian pear, Chinese pear, Korean pear, Japanese pear, Taiwanese pear, zodiac pear, and sand pear. Along with cultivars of ""P. × bretschneideri"" and ""P. ussuriensis"", the fruit is also called the nashi pear. Cultivars derived from ""Pyrus pyrifolia"" are grown throughout East Asia, and in other countries such as India, Australia, New Zealand, and the United States (e.g., California). Traditionally in East Asia the tree's flowers are a popular symbol of early spring, and it is"
"In the United States, 95% of reported pear production in 2004 came from four cultivars: Those marked have gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit. Pyrus communis Pyrus communis, known as the European pear or common pear, is a species of pear native to central and eastern Europe and southwest Asia. It is one of the most important fruits of temperate regions, being the species from which most orchard pear cultivars grown in Europe, North America, and Australia have been developed. Two other species of pears, the Nashi pear (""Pyrus pyrifolia"") and the hybrid Chinese white or ya"