By Dan Zarlenga, Missouri Department of Conservation
Photo caption: The eastern prickly pear cactus is a Missouri native of glades and dry areas. Photo by Jim Rathert, Missouri Dept. of Conservation.
A surprise encounter with a cactus might be a sticky and painful situation. However, there’s a particular cactus that also holds some surprises that really are interesting. And what might surprise people the most is that this cactus lives naturally in Missouri.
You don’t need to travel to the desert southwest to see cacti; the eastern prickly pear cactus is a Missouri native. It can thrive in any area of the Show-Me-State where conditions are right. Those would be dry, sandy, or rocky and well-drained soils, in glades, bluffs, and open woodlands.
A Lot of us are familiar through painful experience with the sharp needles of cacti, but these plants have some good “points” about them too and can even be quite beautiful. This time of year, for example, the prickly pear displays a radiant yellow flower with a dash of orange or red in the center that adds a striking contrast. The blooms attract a myriad of pollinators.
Otherwise, the prickly pear is a low, spreading, succulent cactus. The cactus’ large, flat green parts — the ones which sport those spikey needles — are called the pads. These structures function as the stems of the plant. They store water to ensure the plant’s survival in harsh, drought conditions. The pads sprout small, soft, conical bulges that are the true leaves. They are only out for a short time before they shrivel and fall off.
Another surprising trait is that for a plant that thrives in arid and sun-drenched places, it’s remarkably hardy when it comes to the cold as well. The prickly pear easily endures our state’s frigid winters, including snow and ice, only to bounce back in full bloom again come late spring.
It might come as a surprise too, that the fruit of the prickly pear is edible. This pear-shaped fruit, from which the plant gets its name, is used to create jams, jellies, and in drinks. It’s a sweet treat but healthy too, being rich in vitamin C, fiber, and antioxidants. Prickly pear candy is also a delight in areas where the cactus grows abundantly, and the pads are often pickled and sold in jars at Hispanic grocery stores.
There’s still another surprise regarding those pointy needles. Not only do they provide the plant protection from hungry or clod-footed animals, they help the prickly pear reproduce. If the needles manage to get stuck on some unfortunate critter’s foot, the pads they’re attached to can easily break off at the joints. As the animal reluctantly transports them elsewhere, the pads eventually fall off, where they can take root in a whole new place!
Finally, the most pleasant surprise about seeing the prickly pear is that the cactus is an indicator species. Its presence tells us that the sensitive glade-like habitat which it calls home is likely healthy and thriving.
There are many good points to prickly pear cactus, and not just from their spiney needles. These fascinating plants, like so much else in nature, hold many amazing surprises.