Opuntia robusta, the wheel cactus, nopal tapon, or camuesa, is a species of cactus in the family Cactaceae.[1] It is native and endemic to central and northern Mexico to within 100 miles (160 km) of the Arizona
Opuntia robusta, the wheel cactus, nopal tapon, or camuesa, is a species of cactus in the family Cactaceae.[1] It is native and endemic to central and northern Mexico to within 100 miles (160 km) of the Arizona and New Mexico borders where it grows from 5,000 to 10,000 feet (1,500 to 3,000 m) on rocky slopes, open shrublands, woodlands, and mixed with other cactus and succulents.
Fruit; The fruit of Opuntia robusta is delicious, very juicy too! Fruit ripens around July for the first flush, then you can have a second flush around August/Sept. The fruit is very sweet and is excellent in fruit smoothies or for margaritas. The fruit is sweet/juicy and has a grape-like taste. Fruits or cactus apples are oval in shape and average 1-1/4" to 1-1/2" in diameter by 3-1/2" to 4" long.
Edible stems; Not only is the fruit edible but the stems or nopale pads are also edible in nopales salad. You skin the exterior and boil the stem flesh which is cut into narrow strips. The strips are then added to a fresh salad. High in nutrients and low in calories too, so very healthy!
Plants are commonly around 1 m (40 in) high, though they may grow to over 3 m (10 ft) high when supported.
The flattened stem segments are fleshy, round, and blue-grey in color. These are up to 30 cm (1 ft) in diameter and have the length of sharp spines up to 5 cm (2 in).[2] Yellow, sessile flowers with a fleshy base are produced on the edges of the upper stem segments. These are followed by barrel-shaped fleshy fruits which are pink or purple and up to 8 cm (3 in) long.
Taxonomy
The species was first formally described in 1837 in Enumeratio Diagnostica Cactearum hucusque Cognitarum. It has naturalized in the states of South Australia, New South Wales, Queensland, and Victoria in Australia.
We personally collected this seed, and we guarantee that the mother plant withstood temperatures of -15 degrees Celsius.
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