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Prickly pear cactus
A prickly pear cactus is a flat, round plant that resembles a pancake. They are small (compared to saguaros) with two kinds of spines for protection: large, sharp ones and tiny, hair-like spines (called glochids). Glochids are hardly visible, which makes them especially difficult to remove after they’re lodged in the skin.
A prickly pear cactus has many practical uses. The fruit that grows on the plant is popular in Mexico, where the outer layer is removed as to avoid ingesting glochids. The resulting figs are then used to make beverages or candies, or they can be eaten raw.
Although it is disputable, the prickly pear cactus is believed to have special medicinal properties. The plant contains high levels of alkaloids and other compounds that have been known to treat diabetes. The sap also can be used as a hair conditioner.
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