No. the prickly pear is not native to Australia. It is an introduced species, and a noxious pest.
The Prickly Pear Cactus
A "prickly pear" is not actually a pear.
on a pear
A prickly pear is a cactus. There is no commensalism or mutualism.
The prickly pear provides food and home for the wood rat. In turn, the wood rat acts a pollinator for the prickly pear.
Prickly pear cacti typically live for about 20 to 30 years.
apricot prickly pear cactus
It is a type of fruit
The fruit of the cactus is commonly known as a prickly pear or cactus pear. It is a sweet and flavorful fruit that grows on certain species of cacti.
The prickly pear cactus was chosen as Texas's state plant because there are more than 4 species of cacti in the american southwest
Almost everywhere. The prickly pear is considered a noxious pest in Australia, as it is not native, and it grows and spreads rapidly. It is most common anywhere in the outback, but it can readily be found on rural properties close to urban areas.