prickly pear

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eastern prickly pear

(Top) Area in Queensland, Australia, covered with prickly pear cactus (Opuntia stricta), which had expanded rapidly after being introduced in 1926. (Bottom) The same area three years later (1929) after the cactus moth (Cactoblastis cactorum) was introduced as a biological control agent for the cactus.

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prickly pear: Facts & Related Content

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Facts

Also Known As	nopal

Photos

eastern prickly pear

(Top) Area in Queensland, Australia, covered with prickly pear cactus (Opuntia stricta), which had expanded rapidly after being introduced in 1926. (Bottom) The same area three years later (1929) after the cactus moth (Cactoblastis cactorum) was introduced as a biological control agent for the cactus.

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Topics

beaver tail cactus Barbary fig Indian fig Engelmann prickly pear vegetable fruit Opuntia corn bean grape banana apple fig orange quinoa peach lemon

Quiz

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Red and yellow cherry tomatoes, some forming a question mark, against a light blue background. (organic, fruits, vegetables)

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Demystified

Saguaro cacti dot the Sonoran Desert landscape at Saguaro National Park, Arizona. Formerly Saguaro National Monument cactus

Can You Drink Water from a Cactus?

Plant seedlings emerging from rich fertile soil

Do Plants Feel Pain?