Their job is made difficult by both ancient and modern land use practices, which continually have altered the distribution and density of prickly pear for centuries. Students of history have argued over the location of these stands, particularly when trying to locate route of Cabeza de Vaca's journey through Texas. Large stands of prickly pear are a signature component in many areas of the South Texas Plains landscape. During the tuna harvest, prickly pear was THE most important food in the region, and ranks with pecans and buffalo as a critical seasonal resource. Prickly pear can also be used for many different medicinal purposes including treating burns, wounds, and diabetes. The pads could also be used as containers and even canteens. When moist grass or herbs were not available, the pads were used as green packing material providing steamy moisture and chemical compounds that helped bake lechuguilla and sotol. The pads, especially the younger ones, can be eaten year round – direct evidence from Hinds Cave coprolites (dried human feces) suggests that the pads themselves were eaten often. While it is widely known that the pears were the largest part of the diet for several weeks in mid-summer, the plant was used in many other ways. In contrast to most types of cactus, prickly pear grows relatively quickly with adequate moisture and spreads easily broken off stem segments readily take root and create whole plants. In southern Texas the most common species of prickly pear is Opuntia engelmannii, which can grow into dense, shrubby clumps covering large tracts of land. The tunas are harvested by many animals as well as people. The fruit begins to ripen in midsummer to a deep red color and produces a very sweet purple-red juice. Technically, the plant’s “branches,” known as pads or nopales, are succulent, evergreen stem segments. The long, sharp spines (the prickly part of the name) are actually modified leaves that harden as they age.

Prickly pear gets its name from numerous sharp spines borne on the stems, and the seasonal fruits known as pears or tunas. Early historic observations and archeological data clearly indicate Native Americans relied on prickly pear for food, medicine, and as a source of needles, containers, and water.

Prickly pear is a large, spiny cactus that bears numerous deep red, juicy-sweet fruits.

Prickly pear artpaper