This species has often been treated as a synonym of Opuntia hyptiacantha F.A.C.Weber[].

Common Name:

General Information

Opuntia matudae is a spiny, evergreen, succulent, shrubby to tree-like cactus with a short trunk, ascending branches and segmented stems; it can grow around 2 - 5 metres tall. Individual stem segments are obovate, around 19 - 30cm long and 12 - 19cm wide[, ].
This species is one of the main sources of 'xoconostle' fruits and 'nopalitos' in Mexico, where the plant is harvested in large quanties fom the wild and sold in local markets[].. Many named cultivars have been developed in Mexican gardens and the plant is being grown on a commercial scale[, ].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Southern N. America - central Mexico

Habitat

Xerophilous shrub vegetation, growing inrocks of volcanic origin; at elevations from 2,300 - 2,680 metres[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Habit	Evergreen Shrub
Height	3.50 m
Pollinators	Bees, Insects
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details

The mature fruit is persistent on the plant, it has been observed to remain on the cladodes for 12 months or more in edible condition[]

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw or cooked[, ]. An acid flavour, it is mainly used as a spice and flavouring in cooking. The fruits are known as 'xoconostles' in Mexico, where they are valued for their more acid flavour and are often consumed, though more as a vegetable and flavouring than as a raw fruit[]. A common recipe is to slice and mix xoconostles with tomatoes, onions and hot peppers. Adding diced xoconostle to salsas gives them a special zesty acidic flavour, whilst they can also be used as a base for refreshing drinks[].

The tender young stem segments 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[, ].

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[].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed -

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