Prickly pear cactus (Opuntia ficus-indica), is an edible cactus plant that grows in the arid and semi-arid regions of the world. 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. Broad, flat leaves and sharp spines characterize the prickly pear cactus, and the colorful flowers turn into edible bulb-shaped fruits.
Prickly pear cactus is an important commercial crop in Mexico, Latin America, North Africa, the Mediterranean countries and the Middle East. Grown mostly as a fruit crop, the plant is valued for its large, sweet fruits called figs or tunas. The fruits are used typically used to make candies, jellies, jams, syrups, juices and even alcoholic beverages. The tender leaves or pads of the cactus, called nopales, often appear in boiled or grilled vegetable dishes, particularly in Mexican cuisine. Prickly pear extract and various other parts of the plant have many medicinal uses.