You are bidding on about 25 EASTERN PRICKLY PEAR CACTUS SEEDS Opuntia humifusa - cold hardy .
I'm also selling these as live plants during the warmer months . See my other items for sale.
This showy native plant, the only cactus widespread in the eastern United States, is occasionally transplanted into northern gardens.
As is the case in other Opuntia species, the green stems of this low-growing perennial cactus are flattened, and are formed of segments. Barbed bristles are found around the surfaces of the segments, and longer spines are sometimes present.
The flowers are yellow to gold in color, and are found along the margins of mature segments. The flowers are waxy and sometimes have red centers. They measure 4–6 cm across. This cactus blooms in the late spring.
The juicy and edible red fruits measure from 3–5 cm. As the fruit matures, it changes color from green to red, and often remains on the cactus until the following spring. There are 6 to 33 small, flat, light-colored seeds in each fruit.
USDA Zones 4-9
Medicinal use of Eastern Prickly Pear:
A poultice of the peeled pads is applied to wounds, sores etc. The juice of the fruits is used as a treatment for warts. A tea made from the pads is used in the treatment of lung ailments.
Edible parts of Eastern Prickly Pear:
Fruit - raw, cooked or dried for later use. Sweet and gelatinous. Lean and insipid. The unripe fruits can be added to soups etc, imparting an okra-like mucilaginous quality. The fruit can hang on the plant all year round. The fruit is up to 4 cm long and 3 cm wide. Be careful of the plants irritant hairs. Pads - cooked or raw. Watery and very mucilaginous. Seed - briefly roasted then ground into a powder. It is also used as a thickener .