Common Name:

General Information

Opuntia lutea is a spiny, tree-like cactus with spreading branches, segmented stems and a distinct short trunk; it can grow up to 5 metres tall. Individual stem segments are around 10 - 22cm long[, ].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food. It is also grown as a living fence where it acts as a boundary marker and barrier.
There is insufficient information on what is happening to Opuntia lutea in the Guatemala and Honduras parts of its range. It qualifies for a threatened status in both Costa Rica and Nicaragua because of the small population size. The plant is classified as 'Data Deficient' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2013)[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

C. America - Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala; southern N. America - southern Mexico (Oaxaca, Chiapas)

Habitat

Dry deciduous forest and spiny scrub; at elevations from 100 - 1,100 metres[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Data Deficient
Edibility Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Shrub
Height	4.00 m
Pollinators	Bees, Insects
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details

Not known

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw[]. The red, ovoid fruit is around 4cm long with persistant spines[].

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

We have no 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[].

Agroforestry Uses:

The plant is grown as a living fence in order to mark out boundaries and create a dense, prickly barrier[].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed -

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