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A gum is obtained from the stem. It is used as a masticatory or mixed with oil to make candles{{Ref | PFAFimport-64}}. The juice of the boiled stem segments is very sticky. It is added to plaster, whitewash etc to make it adhere better to walls{{Ref | PFAFimport-92}}. | A gum is obtained from the stem. It is used as a masticatory or mixed with oil to make candles{{Ref | PFAFimport-64}}. The juice of the boiled stem segments is very sticky. It is added to plaster, whitewash etc to make it adhere better to walls{{Ref | PFAFimport-92}}. | ||
| − | |edible=Fruit - raw, cooked or dried for later use{{Ref | PFAFimport-257}}. Sweet and gelatinous{{Ref | PFAFimport-85}}. Lean and insipid{{Ref | PFAFimport-95}}. The unripe fruits can be added to soups etc, imparting an okra-like mucilaginous quality{{Ref | PFAFimport-183}}. The fruit can hang on the plant all year round{{Ref | PFAFimport-160}}. Be careful of the plants irritant hairs, see notes above. The fruits of O. macrorhiza are about 4cm in diameter and usually free of spines{{Ref | PFAFimport-200}}. | + | |edible use notes=Fruit - raw, cooked or dried for later use{{Ref | PFAFimport-257}}. Sweet and gelatinous{{Ref | PFAFimport-85}}. Lean and insipid{{Ref | PFAFimport-95}}. The unripe fruits can be added to soups etc, imparting an okra-like mucilaginous quality{{Ref | PFAFimport-183}}. The fruit can hang on the plant all year round{{Ref | PFAFimport-160}}. Be careful of the plants irritant hairs, see notes above. The fruits of O. macrorhiza are about 4cm in diameter and usually free of spines{{Ref | PFAFimport-200}}. |
The following notes are for O. compressa. They almost certainly also apply to this species[K]. | The following notes are for O. compressa. They almost certainly also apply to this species[K]. | ||
Revision as of 16:55, 18 June 2012
Uses
Edible uses
Notes
Fruit - raw, cooked or dried for later use[1]. Sweet and gelatinous[2]. Lean and insipid[3]. The unripe fruits can be added to soups etc, imparting an okra-like mucilaginous quality[4]. The fruit can hang on the plant all year round[5]. Be careful of the plants irritant hairs, see notes above. The fruits of O. macrorhiza are about 4cm in diameter and usually free of spines[6].
The following notes are for O. compressa. They almost certainly also apply to this species[K].
Pads - cooked or raw[7][5]. Watery and very mucilaginous[2]. Seed - briefly roasted then ground into a powder[7]. It is also used as a thickener[7].
Fruit
Leaves
Seed
Material uses
The following notes are for O. ficus indica. They almost certainly also apply to this species[K].
A gum is obtained from the stem. It is used as a masticatory or mixed with oil to make candles[8]. The juice of the boiled stem segments is very sticky. It is added to plaster, whitewash etc to make it adhere better to walls[9].
Unknown part
Medicinal uses(Warning!)
There are no medicinal uses listed for Opuntia macrorhiza.Ecology
Ecosystem niche/layer
Ecological Functions
Nothing listed.
Forage
Nothing listed.
Shelter
Nothing listed.
Propagation
Seed - sow early spring in a very well-drained compost in a greenhouse. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first two winters. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Give the plants some protection from winter wet. Make sure you have some reserve plants in case those outdoors do not overwinter. Cuttings of leaf pads at any time in the growing season. Remove a pad from the plant and then leave it in a dry sunny place for a couple of days to ensure that the base is thoroughly dry and has begun to callous. Pot up into a sandy compost. Very easy, rooting quickly.
Practical Plants is currently lacking information on propagation instructions of Opuntia macrorhiza. Help us fill in the blanks! Edit this page to add your knowledge.
Cultivation
Requires a sandy or very well-drained soil[5]. Prefers a pH in the range 6 to 7.5[6]. Plants must be kept fairly dry in the winter but they like a reasonable supply of water in the growing season[6]. A position at the base of a south-facing wall or somewhere that can be protected from winter rain is best for this plant. Requires warmth and plenty of sun. Plants tolerate considerable neglect. A fairly cold tolerant plant, it can succeed outdoors in a selected site in the milder areas of the country[6]. This species is closely related to O. compressa[10].
Crops
Problems, pests & diseases
Associations & Interactions
There are no interactions listed for Opuntia macrorhiza. Do you know of an interaction that should be listed here? edit this page to add it.
Polycultures & Guilds
There are no polycultures listed which include Opuntia macrorhiza.
Descendants
Cultivars
Varieties
None listed.
Subspecies
None listed.
Full Data
This table shows all the data stored for this plant.
References
- ? 1.01.1 Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. ISBN 0-88192-453-9 (1998-00-00)
- ? 2.02.12.2 Harrington. H. D. Edible Native Plants of the Rocky Mountains. University of New Mexico Press ISBN 0-8623-0343-9 (1967-00-00)
- ? 3.03.1 Saunders. C. F. Edible and Useful Wild Plants of the United States and Canada. Dover Publications ISBN 0-486-23310-3 (1976-00-00)
- ? 4.04.1 Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications ISBN 0-9628087-0-9 (1990-00-00)
- ? 5.05.15.25.3 Natural Food Institute, Wonder Crops. 1987. ()
- ? 6.06.16.26.36.46.5 Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press ISBN 0-333-47494-5 (1992-00-00)
- ? 7.07.17.27.3 Elias. T. and Dykeman. P. A Field Guide to N. American Edible Wild Plants. Van Nostrand Reinhold ISBN 0442222009 (1982-00-00)
- ? 8.08.1 Howes. F. N. Vegetable Gums and Resins. Faber ()
- ? 9.09.1 Balls. E. K. Early Uses of Californian Plants. University of California Press ISBN 0-520-00072-2 (1975-00-00)
- ? Britton. N. L. Brown. A. An Illustrated Flora of the Northern United States and Canada Dover Publications. New York. ISBN 0-486-22642-5 (1970-00-00)
- ? McGregor. R. L. & Barkley. T. M. Flora of the Great Plains. University Press of Kansas. ISBN 070060295x (1986-00-00)