Texas Prickly Pear

Description:

Shrubby cactus with flat jointed stems forming pads that are either circular or egg-shaped. Spines mostly yellow, usually 1-8 per areole with tiny barbed hairlike spines in clusters along edge of pad and usually at base of long spines.

Habitat:

Found growing in shade on a wooded, rocky hillside above Lake Belton.

Notes:

Edible sweet fruit is good for jelly. The young pads are also edible; best when boiled, then sauteed in butter. Hold the pads over a flame to singe both the long spines and glochids, then scrape off any remaining spines with a knife.