prickly pears
Many a gardener, experienced as well as unsuspecting, has
spent frustrating hours trying to dig the impossible finely
spun and practically invisible cactus hairs from the skin.
The prickly pear makes its presence painfully known. Use
caution when gardening with these lovely cacti. Pear-shaped
pads grow one out of the other, layer by layer, as they expand
into large clumps. Bright yellow flowers appear on the tips
of the outermost pad in spring, followed by purplish-maroon
fruit, called tuna. The fruit is edible and is eaten in many
countries.
Two varieties of prickly pear are prominent in this area:
the low hardy or Eastern prickly pear, Opuntia humifusa, and
the taller erect prickly pear, Opuntia stricta. Like the Spanish
bayonet yucca, the erect prickly pear can be seen growing on
the dunes. The two together are quite striking.
Below: Prickly pears and
yuccas at Wrightsville’s
south end.
Right: Spanish bayonet.
prickly
pears
81
WBM
