Carnegeia gigantea (Engelm). Britt. & Rose. North America (Arizona): fruit eaten by Native American Papago group. Vernacular name: Saguaro. Ref. CASTETTER & BELL, MINNIS.
Ferrocactus wislizensii (Engelm). Britt. & Rose. North America (Sonoran desert): stem pulp eaten by Native American Seri group. Vernacular name: Barrel Cactus. Ref. FELGER & MOSER, MINNIS.
Ferocactus wislizenii (photo credit Prof. Paul Minnis)
Opuntia clavata, Englmn. North America (New Mexico): stems/joints, and fruit roasted in times of food shortage, by Native Americans of the Acoma and Laguna Pueblos. Reported to contain a large amount of mucilaginous substance, rendering them objectionable. Vernacular name: Ishikana. Ref. CASTETTER, MINNIS, SWANK, YANOVSKY.
Opuntia Dilenii, Haw. India: fruit eaten; (Western Rajasthan): berries eaten raw after removal of epicarp. Soil type favored by plant: sandy wastes. Vernacular name: Nagphani. Ref. SAXENA, WATT.
Opuntia imbricata, Haw. North America (New Mexico): stem eaten by Acoma and Laguna Pueblo Native American groups. Vernacular name: Cane Cactus. Ref. MINNIS, SWANK.
Opuntia imbricata (photo credit Prof. Paul Minnis)
Opuntia nigricans, Haw. India: Bombay Presidency: fruit eaten; (Rajasthan, western): fruit eaten after peeling off bristly skin. Vernacular names - Satara district, Bombay Presidency: Nivandga. Jambusar, Broach district: Hathia thor. Rajasthan (western): Nagphani. Ref. GAMMIE; GUPTA & KANODIA.
Opuntia polycantha, Haw. North America (Arizona): stems eaten by Native American Hopi Nation. Vernacular name: Prickly Pear. Ref. MINNIS, WHITING.
Opuntia vulgaris, Mill.; Tenore. India (Madras Presidency): ripe fruit eaten; green fruit and tender shoots may be cooked in curries. Vernacular names - Tamil: Chuppauthumoolloo. Telugu: Nagamala Ref. SHORTT.
Opuntia whipplei, Engelm & Bigel. North America (Arizona): fruit eaten by Native American Hopi Nation. Vernacular name: Whipple Cholla. Ref. MINNIS, WHITING.
Pilocereus setosus, Guerke. Brazil (northeast): a flour is prepared from the tender pith found within the woody medullary sheath of the stem. The spines of the outer stem are first removed, as is its moist, fleshy substance, to reach the sheath. The latter is held over the coals of a fire for ten to fifteen minutes. The woody rind is removed, and the pith is then pulverized and reduced to a flour. Chemical composition (pith): Moisture = 89.0%. Protein = 0.73%. Starch = 1.37%. Minerals = 1.75%. Fibre (crude, etc. = 7.15%. Ash (total): CaO = 8.55% (0.15% in pith). Fe203= 0.15% (0.003% in pith). Vernacular name: Xiquexique. Ref. DE CASTRO.