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nafex - Re: [NAFEX] Opuntia humifusa

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  • From: tanis cuff <tanistanis@hotmail.com>
  • To: <nafex@lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [NAFEX] Opuntia humifusa
  • Date: Thu, 17 Jul 2008 16:15:11 +0000


Matt, someone asked me to find them some for their sandy flowerbed here
(sWI). Would be great if I could supply an edible-fruited version! Sounds
like you might have stumbled on an escape of an edible selection. Could you
find it again and send some plants?



________________________________

Date: Tue, 8 Jul 2008 17:45:22 -0400
From: mdemmon
To: nafex
Subject: Re: [NAFEX] Opuntia humifusa

It seems to ripen in september/october in michigan. Only eaten it once, it
was a small wild one. Popped the whole thing in my mouth, no problems with
spines or hairs. It was mild flavored, but sweet and a nice nibble. In my
opinion, it's probably not worth making things out of because the flavor is
so mild, but good for a quick snack. Maybe a sweetened drink could be made
out of it.

matt
z5 se michigan


On Thu, Jul 3, 2008 at 7:20 PM, Hilborn.E wrote:

I havn't grown it, although I have eaten it. As I recall it ripens midsummer
in the southeast.

When it is a deep red color it can be eaten. But there is an important
element to eating this fruit- the small, fine thorns on the surface of the
fruit must be removed or they will embed in your flesh. They are so fine they
are difficult to remove.

I was taught to burn the spines off the fruit with a match. It worked. I
don't know if ther are other effective methods.

I don't grow the fruit because of the thorns, I found the fruit juicy but
uninteresting- watery and mildly sweet.

Betsy Hilborn
7a NC

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