The story of cacti in Egypt is a fascinating one, marked by both ecological challenges and cultural integration. While not native to the region, various species of cacti, particularly those belonging to the genus Opuntia, have found a home in the Egyptian landscape, impacting both the environment and the lives of its people.
The Prickly Pear: A Global Traveler
Like most true cactus species, prickly pears are native only to the Americas. Through human action, they have since been introduced to many other areas of the world. Prickly pears (mostly O. stricta) were originally imported into Europe during the 16th century. They are now found in the Mediterranean region of Northern Africa, especially in Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia, where they grow all over the countryside. The prickly pear was introduced to Eritrea during the period of Italian colonisation between 1890 and 1940. It is locally known there as beles and is abundant during the late summer and early autumn (late July through September). In Morocco, Tunisia, Libya, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and other parts of North Africa and the Middle East, prickly pears of the yellow and orange varieties are grown by the side of farms, beside railway tracks and other otherwise noncultivable land.
The scientific classification of these plants has evolved over time. When Carl Linnaeus published Species Plantarum in 1753 - the starting point for modern botanical nomenclature - he placed all the species of cactus known to him in one genus, Cactus. In 1754, the Scottish botanist Philip Miller divided them into several genera, including Opuntia.
Characteristics of Opuntia ficus-indica
O. ficus-indica is a large, trunk-forming, segmented cactus that may grow to 5-7 metres (16-23 feet) with a crown of over 3 m (10 ft) in diameter and a trunk diameter of 1 m (1 yard). Cladodes (large pads) are green to blue-green, bearing few spines up to 2.5 centimetres (1 inch) or may be spineless. Prickly pears typically grow with flat, rounded cladodes (also called platyclades) containing large, smooth, fixed spines and small, hairlike prickles called glochids that readily adhere to skin or hair, then detach from the plant. The flowers are typically large, axillary, solitary, bisexual, and epigynous, with a perianth consisting of distinct, spirally arranged tepals and a hypanthium. The stamens are numerous and in spiral or whorled clusters, and the gynoecium has numerous inferior ovaries per carpel. Placentation is parietal, and the fruit is a berry with arillate seeds.
Prickly pear species can vary greatly in habit; most are shrubs, but some, such as O.
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How to Eat Cactus Fruit (Prickly Pear) | Taste Test
Ecological Impact
Like most true cactus species, prickly pears are native only to the Americas. Through human action, they have since been introduced to many other areas of the world. Prickly pear species are found in abundance in Mexico, especially in the central and western regions, and in the Caribbean islands (West Indies). In the United States, prickly pears are native to many areas of the arid, semi-arid, and drought-prone Western and South Central United States, including the lower elevations of the Rocky Mountains and southern Great Plains, where species such as O. phaeacantha and O. polyacantha have become dominant, and to the desert Southwest, where several types are endemic. Opuntia species are the most cold-tolerant of the lowland cacti, extending into western and southern Canada.
However, in some regions, Opuntia species are considered highly invasive. In South Africa, many species of Opuntia are considered highly invasive including O. aurantiaca, O. elata, O. engelmannii, O. ficus-indica, O. humifusa, O. leucotricha, O. microdasys, O. monacantha, O. pubescens, O. robusta, O. salmiana, O. spinulifera, O. stricta and O. tomentosa. O. ficus-indica thrives in regions with mild winters having a prolonged dry spell followed by hot summers with occasional rain and relatively low humidity. A mean annual rainfall of 350-500 millimetres (14-19+1⁄2 in) provides good growth rates.
Uses and Cultural Significance
Despite their invasive potential, cacti, particularly prickly pears, have become integrated into the culture and cuisine of many regions where they have been introduced. The fruit of prickly pears, commonly called cactus fruit, cactus fig, Indian fig (meaning "Native American", not "of India"), nopales or tuna in Spanish, is edible, although it must be peeled carefully to remove the small spines on the outer skin before consumption. If the outer layer is not properly removed, glochids can be ingested, causing discomfort of the throat, lips, and tongue, as the small spines are easily lodged in the skin.
In Mexico, prickly pears are often used to make appetizers, soups, salads, entrees, vegetable dishes, breads, desserts, beverages, candy, jelly, and drinks. The young stem segments, usually called pads or nopales, are also edible in most species of Opuntia. They are commonly used in Mexican cuisine in dishes such as huevos con nopales (eggs with nopal), or tacos de nopales.
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Raw opuntia leaves are 88% water, 10% carbohydrates, and less than 1% both of protein and fat (table). Opuntia contains diverse phytochemicals in variable quantities, such as polyphenols, dietary minerals, and betalains. Identified compounds under basic research include gallic acid, vanillic acid and catechins, as examples.
| Nutrient | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Water | 88% |
| Carbohydrates | 10% |
| Protein | Less than 1% |
| Fat | Less than 1% |
The cactus fig is called tzabar in Hebrew (Hebrew: צבר). This cactus is also the origin of the term sabra used to describe any Jew born in Israel. The prickly pear is also considered a national symbol of Palestine, having been grown across historic Palestine for centuries, traditionally being used to mark out land boundaries. The plant is seen by Palestinians as representing qualities of resilience and patience, as represented by the Palestinian proverb saber as-sabbar ("the patience of the cactus").
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