This plant overwinters outside in this London garden, relatively sheltered so not exposed to the worst frosts. As you can see from the images, the late winter pictures (eg Opuntia robusta RCP3-09 161.jpg (=March 2009)/ Opuntia robusta RCP4-10 161.jpg/Opuntia robusta RCP4-10 163.jpg/=May 2010), this cactus becomes flabby and wrinkled. This is normal and it returns to normal turgor in the summer.

Henry Oakeley, Nov 2015

Opuntia humifusa.Raf. Cactaceae Eastern prickly pear, Indian fig. Distribution: Eastern North America. Stearns (1801) reports 'OPUNTIA a species of cactus. The fruit is called the prickly pear. If eaten it turns the urine and milk in women's breast red'. This is likely to be Opuntia robusta. The ripe fruits are reported edible, raw, and the leaf pads also, either raw or cooked. The fine spines, glochids, cause severe skin irritation so should be wiped off or burnt off prior to cooking and eating. Moerman (1998) reports that O. humifusa was widely used by Native American tribes for wounds, burns, snakebite, warts (fruit), and as a mordant for dyes used on leather. Widely used, with the spines removed, as a famine food, and dried for winter use.

Oakeley, Dr. Henry F. (2013). Wellcome Library notes. Link

O. humifusa was used by the Native Americans for wounds, burns, rattlesnake bites and warts.

Moerman, Daniel E. (2009) Native American Ethnobotany. Timber Press. P.366

Northern America, Eastern Canada, Ontario

Northern America, Northeastern U.S.A., Connecticut

Northern America, Northeastern U.S.A., Indiana

Northern America, Northeastern U.S.A., Masachusettes

Northern America, Northeastern U.S.A., Michigan

Northern America, Northeastern U.S.A., New Jersey

Northern America, Northeastern U.S.A., New York

Northern America, Northeastern U.S.A., Ohio

Northern America, Northeastern U.S.A., Pennsylvania

Northern America, Northeastern U.S.A., Rhode I.

Northern America, Northeastern U.S.A., West Virginia

Northern America, North-Central U.S.A., Illinois

Northern America, North-Central U.S.A., Iowa

Northern America, North-Central U.S.A., Kansas

Northern America, North-Central U.S.A., Minnesota

Northern America, North-Central U.S.A., Missouri

Northern America, North-Central U.S.A., Nebraska

Northern America, North-Central U.S.A., Oklahoma

Northern America, North-Central U.S.A., South Dakota

Northern America, North-Central U.S.A., Wisconsin

Northern America, Northwestern U.S.A., Montana

Northern America, Southeastern U.S.A., Alabama

Northern America, Southeastern U.S.A., Arkansas

Northern America, Southeastern U.S.A., Delaware

Northern America, Southeastern U.S.A., Florida

Northern America, Southeastern U.S.A., Georgia

Northern America, Southeastern U.S.A., Kentucky

Northern America, Southeastern U.S.A., Louisiana

Northern America, Southeastern U.S.A., Maryland

Northern America, Southeastern U.S.A., Mississippi

Northern America, Southeastern U.S.A., North Carolina

Northern America, Southeastern U.S.A., South Carolina

Northern America, Southeastern U.S.A., Tennessee

Northern America, Southeastern U.S.A., Virginia

Northern America, South-Central U.S.A., Texas