opuntia

/ (ɒˈpʌnʃɪə) /

any cactus of the genus Opuntia, esp prickly pear, having fleshy branched stems and green, red, or yellow flowers

Word Origin for opuntia

C17: New Latin, from Latin Opuntia ( herba) the Opuntian (plant), from Opus, ancient town of Locris, Greece

They cat also juniper berries, manzanita berries, and the fruit of the prickly pear (Opuntia).

Coyotes in Their Economic Relations |David E. Lantz
A closely-related species is known as tassajo (Opuntia sponsior).

American Forest Trees |Henry H. Gibson
The Opuntia macrocentra grows in sandy soil or clay loam at levels of three to five thousand feet.

The Fantastic Clan |John James Thornber
When the grave has been half filled in, they throw into it a prickly-pear (Opuntia Dillenii) shrub, and make a mound over it.

Castes and Tribes of Southern India |Edgar Thurston

Opuntia laevis is three to six feet tall with erect wide-spreading branches ascending from the base.

The Fantastic Clan |John James Thornber