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Mostly_Harmless
wyrd bið ful aræd



Registered: 05/12/09
Posts: 5,043
Loc: Perfidious Albion
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The Opuntia thread!
#21740543 - 05/30/15 10:38 AM (8 years, 7 months ago) |
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Let's have a thread dedicated to any and all Opuntioideae 
I never knew this until just a moment ago :
Quote:
The genus is named for the Ancient Greek city of Opus, where, according to Theophrastus, an edible plant grew which could be propagated by rooting its leaves.
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ferrel_human
stone eater



Registered: 06/26/09
Posts: 16,318
Loc: Texas
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No homo MH. But I love you for starting this thread.
Here are some of mine from around the house.

The second pic I don't know the species so if you know it shout it out.
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ferrel_human said:

Quote:
Health benefits of nopales
Nopales are one of very low calorie vegetables. 100 g of fresh leaves carry just 16 calories. Nonetheless, its modified leaves (paddles) have many vital phytochemicals, fiber, anti-oxidants, vitamins, and minerals that can immensely benefit health.
The succulent paddles are rich sources of dietary fiber, especially non-carbohydrate polysaccharides, such as pectin, mucilage and hemicellulose. Together, these substances help bring reduction in body weight, LDL-cholesterol, and blood sugar levels. This rich fiber and mucilaginous content in cactus pads aid in smooth passage of digested food particles through the gut and help relieve constipation problems.
In addition, the juice extracted from the noples has been suggested to have immune-booster, and anti-inflammatory properties.
Cactus pads feature moderate amounts of vitamin A with 100 g fresh pads carrying about 457 IU of vitamin A, and 250 µg of ß-carotene. ß-carotene converted into vitamin-A inside the body. Studies found that vitamin A and flavonoid compounds in vegetables help protect from skin, lung and oral cavity cancers.
Further, nopal pads contain small levels of B-complex group of vitamins such as thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B-6 (pyridoxine), and pantothenic acid. These vitamins are essential for optimum cellular enzymatic and metabolic functions inside the human body.
Fresh pads contain average levels of vitamin-C. 100 g provides 9.3 mg or 15% of this vitamin. Vitamin C is a water-soluble, natural anti-oxidant, which helps the body protect from scurvy and offer resistance against infectious agents (boost immunity), and help scavenge harmful, pro-inflammatory free radicals from the body.
They contain small amounts of minerals, especially calcium, potassium, magnesium and iron.
Preparation and serving methods
Nopales, fresh or preserved, have been main part of traditional Mexican cuisine, especially during lean days. To prepare, hold the pad at its base and gently scrape off all the spines and bristle on either sides using a blunt knife. Wash in cold water and mop dry using a soft cloth. Then, using a vegetable peeler, trim away its excess skin at the nodules. Cut into small cubes or uniform strips (nopaliots) as you may desire. One may also buy freshly prepared ready to use diced pads or nopalitos (strips) from the stores.
The flavor of fresh nopales feature a mix ofasparagus and french bean; in addition to having a chewy texture.
Here are some serving tips:
Mexican nopales dish. Note for cactus strips mixed with scrabled egg on the right side. (Photo courtesy: pointnshoot)
They can be eaten raw in salads (ensalada di nopales) and salsa (nopal de salsa) withonion, tomato seasoned with salt, pepper, and dried-oregano and dress with olive oil.
Fresh nopal is used in soups, stews, juices, and cooked as a vegetable.
Fry strips in nopalitos fritos.
Boiled, and roast or grilled nopalitos are again eaten as a delicious side dish.
Pickled nopal is a favorite appetizer. Diced nopalitos, onion, tomato sauteed with scrambled eggs is a favorite breakfast during the lent season in Mexico.
Cactus pad (nopalea) juice produced industrially has been marketed as wellness drink for its health benefiting properties, however, such claims yet to be proven scientifically.
Taken from here.
-------------------- Nature is my church and walking through it is gospel. It tells no lies and reveals all to those who look, and listen, closely. -Karode
 Looking for Mimosa tenuiflora seeds. Buttons for trade
Edited by ferrel_human (05/30/15 10:56 AM)
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Mostly_Harmless
wyrd bið ful aræd



Registered: 05/12/09
Posts: 5,043
Loc: Perfidious Albion
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Thanks for joining in, ferrel. It was your recent nopale chatter and info that served as some of the inspiration for starting this thread There are so many different uses across this subfamily 
I'm useless at ID's for these!
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AIRDOG



Registered: 10/16/99
Posts: 3,493
Loc: world's shroom capital
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yes nopales are an awesome food....
charcoal grilled nopales with molten cheese FTW
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Argyreia
Grafting cacti is awesome



Registered: 11/19/14
Posts: 1,100
Loc: France
Last seen: 1 month, 20 days
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Re: The Opuntia thread! [Re: AIRDOG]
#21740666 - 05/30/15 11:15 AM (8 years, 7 months ago) |
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Awesome thread now we need an epiphytic cacti thread 
I put these two in the ground. I was afraid of transplanting shock but they are thriving. These plants are the toughest.


I'm finally using the shroomery server. Hope I won't charge it too much with my heavy pics.
Edited by Argyreia (05/30/15 11:32 AM)
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spaceman101
Friend to all



Registered: 01/18/13
Posts: 11,726
Loc: In heaven bored as hell
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Quote:
ferrel_human said: No homo MH. But I love you for starting this thread.
Here are some of mine from around the house.

The second pic I don't know the species so if you know it shout it out.
Quote:
ferrel_human said:

Quote:
Health benefits of nopales
Nopales are one of very low calorie vegetables. 100 g of fresh leaves carry just 16 calories. Nonetheless, its modified leaves (paddles) have many vital phytochemicals, fiber, anti-oxidants, vitamins, and minerals that can immensely benefit health.
The succulent paddles are rich sources of dietary fiber, especially non-carbohydrate polysaccharides, such as pectin, mucilage and hemicellulose. Together, these substances help bring reduction in body weight, LDL-cholesterol, and blood sugar levels. This rich fiber and mucilaginous content in cactus pads aid in smooth passage of digested food particles through the gut and help relieve constipation problems.
In addition, the juice extracted from the noples has been suggested to have immune-booster, and anti-inflammatory properties.
Cactus pads feature moderate amounts of vitamin A with 100 g fresh pads carrying about 457 IU of vitamin A, and 250 µg of ß-carotene. ß-carotene converted into vitamin-A inside the body. Studies found that vitamin A and flavonoid compounds in vegetables help protect from skin, lung and oral cavity cancers.
Further, nopal pads contain small levels of B-complex group of vitamins such as thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B-6 (pyridoxine), and pantothenic acid. These vitamins are essential for optimum cellular enzymatic and metabolic functions inside the human body.
Fresh pads contain average levels of vitamin-C. 100 g provides 9.3 mg or 15% of this vitamin. Vitamin C is a water-soluble, natural anti-oxidant, which helps the body protect from scurvy and offer resistance against infectious agents (boost immunity), and help scavenge harmful, pro-inflammatory free radicals from the body.
They contain small amounts of minerals, especially calcium, potassium, magnesium and iron.
Preparation and serving methods
Nopales, fresh or preserved, have been main part of traditional Mexican cuisine, especially during lean days. To prepare, hold the pad at its base and gently scrape off all the spines and bristle on either sides using a blunt knife. Wash in cold water and mop dry using a soft cloth. Then, using a vegetable peeler, trim away its excess skin at the nodules. Cut into small cubes or uniform strips (nopaliots) as you may desire. One may also buy freshly prepared ready to use diced pads or nopalitos (strips) from the stores.
The flavor of fresh nopales feature a mix ofasparagus and french bean; in addition to having a chewy texture.
Here are some serving tips:
Mexican nopales dish. Note for cactus strips mixed with scrabled egg on the right side. (Photo courtesy: pointnshoot)
They can be eaten raw in salads (ensalada di nopales) and salsa (nopal de salsa) withonion, tomato seasoned with salt, pepper, and dried-oregano and dress with olive oil.
Fresh nopal is used in soups, stews, juices, and cooked as a vegetable.
Fry strips in nopalitos fritos.
Boiled, and roast or grilled nopalitos are again eaten as a delicious side dish.
Pickled nopal is a favorite appetizer. Diced nopalitos, onion, tomato sauteed with scrambled eggs is a favorite breakfast during the lent season in Mexico.
Cactus pad (nopalea) juice produced industrially has been marketed as wellness drink for its health benefiting properties, however, such claims yet to be proven scientifically.
Taken from here.
What is up with that last pic ferrel? The one where it looks like they're growing out of a tree? Never seen that one before.
I'll post some pics up today of my opuntias I have growing atm.
-------------------- ------------- Check out my Pollen Trade thread for spreading Good genetics far and wide Great Vendors thread where we can discuss "Non Shroomery" Vendors that sell good products worth checking into A few things I wanna get my hands on check it out and let me know if you have any of these Need help getting started growing mushrooms Here's The Noob Forum
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kactus.brand.g
Registered: 08/22/14
Posts: 6,886
Last seen: 6 years, 10 months
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Re: The Opuntia thread! [Re: Argyreia]
#21740723 - 05/30/15 11:37 AM (8 years, 7 months ago) |
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My kind of thread,and one of my most favorite species of cacti
Here are a few of mine,they look rough from being indoors all winter,but they are slowly getting back into shape.
I have several different types here,and a couple are some of which came from the wild in Florida and Kentucky.
And by wild I mean plants growing off the side of the road or in vacant lots




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spaceman101
Friend to all



Registered: 01/18/13
Posts: 11,726
Loc: In heaven bored as hell
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Hey dude which opuntia did you take that cutting you sent me off of?
BTW that succulent style plant behind the opuntia in the second pic you posted is it a euphorbia of some kind? I've got one but it was unlabeled.
-------------------- ------------- Check out my Pollen Trade thread for spreading Good genetics far and wide Great Vendors thread where we can discuss "Non Shroomery" Vendors that sell good products worth checking into A few things I wanna get my hands on check it out and let me know if you have any of these Need help getting started growing mushrooms Here's The Noob Forum
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kactus.brand.g
Registered: 08/22/14
Posts: 6,886
Last seen: 6 years, 10 months
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I'm not sure man,but I have three our four different species.
That succulent is a Jade plant.
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spaceman101
Friend to all



Registered: 01/18/13
Posts: 11,726
Loc: In heaven bored as hell
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Quote:
kactus.brand.g said: My kind of thread,and one of my most favorite species of cacti
Here are a few of mine,they look rough from being indoors all winter,but they are slowly getting back into shape.
I have several different types here,and a couple are some of which came from the wild in Florida and Kentucky.
And by wild I mean plants growing off the side of the road or in vacant lots

Are you sure about that? I'm talking about the columnar cactus like succulent behind the opuntia in this pic.
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ferrel_human
stone eater



Registered: 06/26/09
Posts: 16,318
Loc: Texas
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That's the mother plant spaceman. All the others is where I cut branches and threw them out there.
Now I have noticed that when they are grown in pots they are more 'ferocious'. Spines tend to make an appearance. I don't know why this is. I tend to shy away from opuntias that have a lot of glochids, my sworn enemy. I've gotten those bastards stuck in my lips. But I had an opuntia brasiliense,I think that's what it's called who had similar paddle to the ficus - indica but grew from a stem to the sides. I got that one from Urb but it died. Super awesome plant.
-------------------- Nature is my church and walking through it is gospel. It tells no lies and reveals all to those who look, and listen, closely. -Karode
 Looking for Mimosa tenuiflora seeds. Buttons for trade
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kactus.brand.g
Registered: 08/22/14
Posts: 6,886
Last seen: 6 years, 10 months
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Oh,my bad,that's just a cereus cutting that broke of my main plant
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spaceman101
Friend to all



Registered: 01/18/13
Posts: 11,726
Loc: In heaven bored as hell
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Oh shit dude I never knew they could grow a trunk like that. Very interesting. I need to get my hands on a few more types of these plants this year.
-------------------- ------------- Check out my Pollen Trade thread for spreading Good genetics far and wide Great Vendors thread where we can discuss "Non Shroomery" Vendors that sell good products worth checking into A few things I wanna get my hands on check it out and let me know if you have any of these Need help getting started growing mushrooms Here's The Noob Forum
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ferrel_human
stone eater



Registered: 06/26/09
Posts: 16,318
Loc: Texas
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Yeah they do. But I harvest almost daily so it's stays short. I've seen super tall ones like trees. Those started from 2 ft cuttings. I like the taste. My dad has one but the taste is bland. This one is almost lemony bitter but they are super good.
@ kactus. Buddy you got to get those in the ground. In florida though. True potential comes out.
-------------------- Nature is my church and walking through it is gospel. It tells no lies and reveals all to those who look, and listen, closely. -Karode
 Looking for Mimosa tenuiflora seeds. Buttons for trade
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spaceman101
Friend to all



Registered: 01/18/13
Posts: 11,726
Loc: In heaven bored as hell
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Quote:
kactus.brand.g said: Oh,my bad,that's just a cereus cutting that broke of my main plant
Oh ok I was thinking it was the same I had but I believe mine was originally labeled but it came off. I saw another a couple weeks ago that said euphorbia on it. It grows these dark lil leaved shaped like an opuntia pad out of each areole and in between the spines.
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ferrel_human
stone eater



Registered: 06/26/09
Posts: 16,318
Loc: Texas
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Anybody got an id for this?
-------------------- Nature is my church and walking through it is gospel. It tells no lies and reveals all to those who look, and listen, closely. -Karode
 Looking for Mimosa tenuiflora seeds. Buttons for trade
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spaceman101
Friend to all



Registered: 01/18/13
Posts: 11,726
Loc: In heaven bored as hell
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Looks bunny earish but I can't id with this plant.
-------------------- ------------- Check out my Pollen Trade thread for spreading Good genetics far and wide Great Vendors thread where we can discuss "Non Shroomery" Vendors that sell good products worth checking into A few things I wanna get my hands on check it out and let me know if you have any of these Need help getting started growing mushrooms Here's The Noob Forum
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kactus.brand.g
Registered: 08/22/14
Posts: 6,886
Last seen: 6 years, 10 months
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Quote:
ferrel_human said: Yeah they do. But I harvest almost daily so it's stays short. I've seen super tall ones like trees. Those started from 2 ft cuttings. I like the taste. My dad has one but the taste is bland. This one is almost lemony bitter but they are super good.
@ kactus. Buddy you got to get those in the ground. In florida though. True potential comes out.
Oh I know buddy
Quote:
spaceman101 said:
Quote:
kactus.brand.g said: Oh,my bad,that's just a cereus cutting that broke of my main plant
Oh ok I was thinking it was the same I had but I believe mine was originally labeled but it came off. I saw another a couple weeks ago that said euphorbia on it. It grows these dark lil leaved shaped like an opuntia pad out of each areole and in between the spines.
I got ya
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kactus.brand.g
Registered: 08/22/14
Posts: 6,886
Last seen: 6 years, 10 months
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Quote:
ferrel_human said: Anybody got an id for this?

Opuntia stricta,and I have one pictured too,it was from Florida.
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kactus.brand.g
Registered: 08/22/14
Posts: 6,886
Last seen: 6 years, 10 months
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Opuntia stricta occurs naturally in Texas, Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, Florida and South Carolina in the United States as well as the Bahamas, Bermuda, the Caribbean, eastern Mexico, Central America, northern Venezuela, and Ecuador.
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