List of edible cacti facts for kids
Did you know that not all cacti are just spiky plants in the desert? Many types of cacti actually grow delicious fruits and pads that people can eat! These amazing plants belong to the Cactaceae family. For hundreds of years, people in different parts of the world have enjoyed eating various parts of cacti, from their sweet fruits to their fleshy stems. Let's explore some of the most popular and interesting edible cacti!
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Amazing Edible Cacti
Many different kinds of cacti offer tasty treats. Here are some of the most well-known edible cacti:
Prickly Pears (Opuntia)
The Opuntia genus is probably the most famous group of edible cacti, often called prickly pears or nopal. People eat both the fruit (called tunas) and the flat, paddle-like stems (called nopales). The fruits are sweet and juicy, while the pads can be cooked like a vegetable.
- Opuntia engelmannii
- Opuntia ficus-indica: This is one of the most widely grown prickly pear cacti for food around the world.
- Opuntia matudae
- Opuntia fragilis
- Opuntia basilaris
Dragon Fruits (Selenicereus)
You might know these as dragon fruits or pitayas. They are bright, colorful fruits with a unique look and sweet, slightly tangy taste. They are popular in many tropical countries.
Strawberry Cacti (Echinocereus)
The genus Echinocereus is often called "Strawberry Cactus" because some of its fruits look and taste a bit like strawberries. They are small, sweet, and often brightly colored.
- E. engelmannii (also known as "Strawberry Vanilla")
- E. bonkerae
- E. boyce-thompsonii
- E. enneacanthus
- E. cincerascens
- E. stramineus
- E. dasyacanthus
- E. fendleri
- E. fasciculatus
- E. brandegeei
- E. ledingii
- E. nicholii
Barrel Cacti (Ferocactus)
These cacti are known for their barrel shape. Some species produce edible fruits.
- Ferocactus hamatacanthus
- F. histrix (called "borrachitos")
- F. latispinus (called "pochas")
Organ Pipe Cacti (Stenocereus)
The fruits from Stenocereus cacti are often quite sweet, but they can ferment quickly, which means they might turn a bit sour (agria).
- S. fricii (known as "Pitayo de aguas")
- S. griseus (known as "Pitayo de Mayo")
- S. gummosus (known as "Pitahaya agria")
- S. pruinosus (known as "Pitayo de Octubre")
- S. montanus (known as "Pitaya colorada")
- S. queretaroensis (known as "Pitaya de Queretaro")
- S. standleyi (known as "Pita Marismena")
- S. stellatus (known as "Xoconostle")
- S. thurberi (also called "Organ Pipe Cactus" or "Pitayo Dulce")
- S. treleasi (known as "Tunillo")
Other Edible Cacti Varieties
Many other cacti species also offer edible parts. Here are a few more interesting ones:
- Acanthocereus tetragonus: Also known as the sword pear.
- Browningia candelaris
- Carnegiea gigantea: This is the famous Saguaro cactus, found in the Southwestern United States. Its red fruits are edible.
- Cereus repandus: Found in California and Florida.
- Corryocactus: This genus is known for its tasty, berry-like fruits.
- C. brevistylis
- C. pulquiensis
- C. erectus
- Coryphantha
- C. robbinsorum
- C. recurvata
- Echinopsis: Some South American species have edible parts.
- E. (or T.) atacamensis
- E./T. coquimbana
- E./T. schickendanzii
- Epiphyllum: Known as the Orchid cactus.
- E. anguliger (sometimes called Phyllocactus darrahii), said to taste like gooseberries.
- Epithelantha: The fruits of all species in this genus are said to be edible.
- Eulychnia
- E. acida
- Harrisia: Found in Florida and the Caribbean, these are sometimes called "Prickly Apples."
- Harrisia martinii
- H. pomanensis
- H. balansae (from Argentina)
- Mammillaria: The fruits of these cacti are often called "chilitos" because they look like tiny red chili peppers.
- M. applanata
- M. meiacantha
- M. macdougalii
- M. lasiacantha
- M. grahamii
- M. oliviae
- M. mainiae
- M. microcarpa
- M. thornberi
- Maihuenia
- Myrtillocactus geometrizans: Known as "garambulos", their fruits are said to taste like less-acid cranberries.
- Neowerdermannia vorwerkii: This cactus is known as the achakana.
- Pachycereus
- Pachycereus pringlei: This is the Cardon cactus, one of the tallest cacti.
- P. schottii: The Senita cactus.
- P. weberi: The Candelabro cactus.
- Peniocereus
- Peniocereus greggii: Famous as the Arizona Queen of the Night, known for its beautiful night-blooming flowers.
- P. johnstonii
- P. serpentinus
- Pereskia
- P. aculeata: Also known as the "Barbados gooseberry."
- P. guamacho
See also
In Spanish: Anexo:Cactus comestibles para niños
