Home PagePicture ArchivesFlora of QatarCactaceaeOpuntia ficus-indica

Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Mill.

Synonyms

Cactus ficus-indica, Cactus opuntia, Opuntia arcei, Opuntia castillae, Opuntia chinensis, Opuntia cordobensis, Opuntia ficus-barbarica, Opuntia incarnadilla, Opuntia megacantha, Opuntia vulgaris, Platyopuntia vulgaris

Common names

Barbary fig, prickly pear, spineless cactus

Extract from Wikipedia article

Opuntia ficus-indica is a species of cactus that has long been a domesticated crop plant important in agricultural economies throughout arid and semiarid parts of the world. It is thought probably to have originated in Mexico. Some of the common English names for the plant and its fruit are Indian fig opuntia, Barbary fig, cactus pear, spineless cactus, and prickly pear, although this last name has also been applied to other less common Opuntia species. In Mexican Spanish, the plant is called nopal, while the fruit is called tuna, which are names also used in American English, especially as culinary terms.

Barbary fig cactus (Opuntia ficus-indica) growing as crop in Rawdat Al Faras Research Station (RAFRS, or Qatar University Farm) near Al Zubara Road. Qatar, April 20, 2016
LinkBarbary fig cactus (Opuntia ficus-indica) growing as crop in Rawdat Al Faras Research Station (RAFRS, or Qatar University Farm) near Al Zubara Road. Qatar, April 20, 2016
Location on mapsUnnamed Road, Al-Ghuwayriyah, Qatar
Cactus pads of Barbary fig (Opuntia ficus-indica) growing as crop in Rawdat Al Faras Research Station (RAFRS, or Qatar University Farm) near Al Zubara Road. Qatar, April 20, 2016
LinkCactus pads of Barbary fig (Opuntia ficus-indica) growing as crop in Rawdat Al Faras Research Station (RAFRS, or Qatar University Farm) near Al Zubara Road. Qatar, April 20, 2016
Location on mapsUnnamed Road, Al-Ghuwayriyah, Qatar

Links

Outside links

How the web page was created

Acknowledgements

QNHG (Qatar Natural History Group) and associated people, for a possibility to participate in their field excursions and to learn about local nature.