Sweet Prickly Pear
Name
Sweet Prickly Pear
Latin Name
Opuntia ficus-indica
Description
The sweet prickly pear is succulent that grows paddle-shaped stems covered in sharp spines. This leafless plant is also an alien indigenous to South America. It bears edible plum-shaped spiny fruits.
Habitat
The sweet prickly pear can be found all over South Africa.
Field Notes
The sweet prickly pear is an alien plant in South Africa, after being imported from Mexico. It was used as a barricade and feed for livestock by farmers.
The fruit it bears is used to make a variety of sweet product such as jams and drinks. In the wild, many are trying to get rid of it, as it is a pest to the natural environment.
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