Common Name: Sacasil

General Information

Opuntia chaffeyi is a spiny, succulent very small perennial cactus arising from rhizomes up to 35cm long and 4cm in diameter. The much-branched stems are nearly prostrate and around 5 - 15cm long; unlike most Opuntias, these stems are annual and die down at the end of the growing season[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine. It is sometimes grown as an ornamental, mainly as a curiosity for its rarity value and habit of having annual stems.
Opuntia chaffeyi has a very small range in the wild and is known from only three separate localities which are not severely fragmented. The estimated number of individuals is critically low, there are only about 15 mature individuals in total. The habitat is expected to decline in the future mostly due to cattle and agricultural development. The plant is classified as 'Critically Endangered' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2013)[].

Known Hazards

The plant has numerous minutely barbed glochids - these are barbed spines that are usually small to minute and are very sharp and brittle. The glochids are very easily dislodged when the plant is touched and can penetrate the skin where, because of their barbs, they become stuck and are very difficult to see and remove. They can cause considerable irritation and discomfort[, ].
Opuntia species can contain quite high levels of oxalic acid, especially in older parts of the plant. Perfectly alright in small quantities, foods containing oxalic acid should not be eaten in large amounts since it can lock-up other nutrients in the food, especially calcium, thus causing mineral deficiencies. The oxalic acid content will be reduced if the plant is cooked. People with a tendency to rheumatism, arthritis, gout, kidney stones or hyperacidity should take especial caution if including this plant in their diet since it can aggravate their condition[, ].

Botanical References

Range

Southern N. America - central Mexico (Zacatecas)

Habitat

Found in the silty flood plain of a dried lake with scarce desert vegetation, mostly Prosopis and Larrea species[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Critically Endangered
Medicinal Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	0.10 m
Pollinators	Bees, Insects
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Not known

Edible Uses

The tender young stem segments of various species are often cooked as a vegetable[]. Known as ‘nopals’ in Mexico, where they are a common ingredient in numerous dishes, they can be eaten raw or cooked, used in marmalades, soups, stews and salads. The most commonly used species are Opuntia ficus-indica and Opuntia matudae, although the stems of almost all Opuntia species are edible[, ].

Medicinal

The rhizomes are used as an anti-inflammatory in the treatment of broken bones[].

We have no further specific information on medicinal uses for this species, but the following notes are likely to apply universally to Opuntia species and other related genera[].

The flesh of tender young stem segments can be applied as a poultice to reduce inflammation[].
The mucilage and soluble fibre found in the flowers and stem segments have been shown to help control blood-sugar levels associated with adult-onset diabetes[].
There is clinical evidence that the soluble fibre in the stem segments helps reduce blood cholesterol levels[].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed -

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