North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

[tanis cuff <tanistanis@hotmail.com>]

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?    



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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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