Opuntia ficus-indica, the indian fig opuntia, fig opuntia, or prickly pear, is a species of cactus that has long been a domesticated crop plant grown in agricultural economies throughout arid and semiarid parts of the world. o. ficus-indica is the most widespread and most commercially important cactus. it is grown primarily as a fruit crop, and also for the vegetable nopales and other uses. cacti are good crops for dry areas because they convert water into biomass efficiently. o. ficus-indica, as the most widespread of the long-domesticated cactuses, is as economically important as maize and blue agave in mexico. because opuntia species hybridize easily, the wild origin of o. ficus-indica...

Source: Wikipedia