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A — Prickly Pear 

 Opuntia 

 B — Organ Cactus 

 Cereus 



The juicy pear-shaped prickly fruits (A) may be eaten raw 

 or dried. The fine spines or bristles must be removed carefully 

 because they may irritate the mouth. The young joints or pads, 

 sometimes called leaves, are good when cooked. This common 

 cactus is found in dry places in the Caribbean region. The 

 fruit is sometimes called tuna or Indian fig, the plant, nopal. 



Like all other juicy fruits of the cactus plants, the ripe fruits 

 of the organ cactus (B) are very good to eat. The tender ends 

 of the branches may be eaten cooked, and the raw fruits eaten 

 or sucked as a substitute for water. The plant, common in 

 some parts of the West Indies and the mainland of Central 

 America, is tall and tree-like with a few thick, ridged branches. 

 The fruits are oval, usually bright pink in color, and covered with 

 large leaf scales. Other names are organo, cardon and pitahaya. 



