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Are there any flowers or fruits produced on a prickly pear cactus?
Wiki User
∙ 9y ago
Wiki User
∙ 14y agoCactus fruits and berries develop from the ovary of the pollinated and then withered flower. They contain the seeds by which cactus plants may reproduce. Fleshy fruits and berries are attractive food sources for birds, insects, and rodents. Some also appeal to people, especially in the southwestern United States of America and in northern Mexico.
Wiki User
∙ 14y agoYes, people can eat the paddles of the prickly pear cactus [Opuntia spp]. But the barbed spines need to be removed. The paddles are peeled, cut up, and boiled in a popular Mexican food that's called nopalitos.
Wiki User
∙ 14y agoNo, the cactus plant isn't a fruit. Instead, it's a plant that produces a fruit. The fruit develops from the ovary, which develops from the pollinated and then withered flower.
Wiki User
∙ 14y agoAny cactus that flowers is capable of bearing fruit. Whether or not the flower fruits and then seeds depends upon other variables. For example, the critical factor is the presence of the appropriate pollinator or of human intervened pollination.
Wiki User
∙ 9y agoYes, prickly pears produce both flowers and fruit. Many species have a fruit that is quite good to eat once the small microscopic spines (glochids) are removed.
Wiki User
∙ 14y agoNeither . A cactus is a spiky plant .
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Where do cactus flowers originate from?
Since the cactus is a plant, it does flower. The fruits that are produced after the cacti flowers contains seeds. Seeds are usually dispersed by birds who consume the fruit.
What fruits help lower diabetes?
Prickly Pear Cactus fruit
How does the prickly pear reproduced?
it makes fruits from flowers that have seeds in them.
Are pears fruits?
No, cactus Pears aren't fruits. The term refers to the spiny pads of the prickly pear cactus [Opuntia spp]. The pads may be prepared and served as vegetables. It's the plant's berries that are the plant's fruits.
Prick pears is a kind of fruit?
Yes, prickly pear fruits develop on a number of cactus plants and are edible.
Are fruits produced by flowers?
Definitely Not!
Can cactus fruits be poisonous?
No, cactus fruits aren't poisonous. The concern is flavorability, not poisonousness. Some of the fruits are more flavorful than others. Some fruits are more flavorful when they're a certain color. For example, in the range of colors from green to purple and red of the prickly pear cactus [Opuntia spp], the darker colored fruits are considered less tasty.
What is a datura?
A plant with large trumpet-shaped flowers and prickly fruits. It is commonly called a thorn apple.
What is the fruit called that grows on a cactus?
The fruit of the barrel cactus [Ferocactus spp] are small berries. They show up in summer. Their appearance is preceded by the plant's large, bell or funnel shaped flowers that tend towards violet or yellow. A barrel cactus also may be found in the Echinocactus genus. This type of barrel cactus is characterized by open faced flowers that range from golden yellow to purple red. The blooms aren't followed by fruits. Instead, they're succeeded by papery seedpods.
How long does a prickly pear take to produce?
Generally, the Prickly Pear Cactus, a member of the Opuntia family, will need to be at least 3 years old before it will begin to produce flowers. These will usually be bright yellow, depending on the variety of Prickly Pear and the climate. Sometimes, even an Opuntia that is of adequate age and maturity will fail to produce flowers, such as if there hasn't been enough moisture for the year, or if it receives inadequate sunlight. When the Prickly Pear does bloom, the small, thumblike protrusions that the flowers grow on will become the fruit, the "Prickly Pear", for which the Cacti is commonly named. These fruits generally take 3 to six months to fully ripen, again dependent on the species. Usually, a healthy, mature plant will produce flowers in early Spring, with the fruits being ripe and ready to consume by late Summer to early Fall. It's worth noting that cuttings from a mature plant will mature and produce flowers much more rapidly than growing from seed, in fact the Prickly Pear I am currently caring for was cut from the mother early March, and by May had already produced flowers, and the beginnings of fruits. This is because the cacti I took my cuttings from was already older and mature. I placed "my" cactus in direct, all day sunlight. Although my Opuntia is well on it's way to producing fruit, the mother plant has yet to produce a single flower. This is proof of the importance of climate, as even a mature plant may not flower if the sunlight is inadequate. So, basically, your Prickly Pear will produce fruits as soon as it is old enough, which may be immediately if grown from cutting, and the fruits will begin to form in early Spring, maturing by Fall. Again, the climate and sunlight will have a HUGE effect on the timing, so make sure your Opuntia receives as much sunlight as possible, and don't over-water. Try to find a wild cacti from your area to take a cutting from, as these will already be acclimated to your environment, and will grow more vigorously.
How do flowers help cactus plants survive in the desert?
Flowers help cactus plants survive in the desert by attracting pollinators. Because of pollination, the cactus plants may have fruits full of seeds. For example, the giant saguaro cactus [Carnegiea gigantea] depends upon bats for pollination of its huge, light colored bat blossoms.
Can you eat cactus's?
Yes, many of the fruits can be eaten fresh. For example, the yellow fruit of the prickly pear [Opuntia spp] has the sweetest flavor of the cactus fruit's color range. It's eaten fresh. Additionally, other body parts also can be eaten. For example, the prickly pear cactus' jointed pads may be peeled and boiled, to make Mexico's popular nopalitos. The flesh of the candy barrel cactus [Ferocactus wislizeni] may be made up into sugary candies.
