Prickly pear cactus, Panini

Description:

The Prickly Pear is a massive trunk-forming segmented cactus that typically reaches heights of 3 to 5 meters with a lateral span of two to three times its height at maturity (usually at 20 years of age). The individual leaves (“pads” or “nopales”) of this species are edible, but are covered with widely spaced aureoles that include one to as many as six white or yellowish spines 1-3 cm long. In addition to these formidable spines, aureoles include numerous glochids, tiny hair-like spines that are smaller than typical spines but no less formidable.

Habitat:

Steep mountainside on Oahu's leeward side.

Notes:

Introduced (ostensibly as cattle fodder) to the Hawaiian Islands early in the nineteenth century but is now naturalized on all the main islands. It prefers sunny open land on gentle slopes, although it is not unusual to see large mature plants clinging to nearly vertical cliff faces, particularly in drier leeward coastal areas.