Common Name: Nopalillo

General Information

Opuntia megarrhiza is a spiny, succulent, low-growing, much-branched shrubby cactus usually growing 20 - 30cm tall, though forming somewhat erect aerial stems up to 60cm tall every 1 - 2 years. The rootstock has long, thickened roots that can be 30 - 60cm long and 5 - 6cm thick[, ].
The plant is harvested from the wild for medicinal use.
Opuntia megarrhiza has a small extent of occurrence, its population comprises three disjunct subpopulations comprising three locations, and the quality of its habitat is expected to decline in the long term due to the intensification of human activities. In addition there is significant harvest occuring from the wild for medicinal use. The plant is classified as '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 (Tamaulipas, San Luis Potosí)

Habitat

Disturbed grassland and chaparral on the tops of mountains where the soils are relatively deep-dark clay,
with limestone outcrops[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Endangered
Medicinal Rating
Habit	Evergreen Shrub
Height	0.25 m
Pollinators	Bees, Insects
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

The cladodes of this species die back in the winter months and regrow in the spring as an adaptation to withstand freezing and the impacts of fire[].

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 or Opuntia hyptiacantha (syn Opuntia matudae), although the stems of almost all Opuntia species are edible[, ].

Medicinal

The rhizomes of this species are collected for medicinal use as an anti-inflammatory for broken bones[].
The fleshy roots are applied as poultices for the reduction of fractures and inflammation[].

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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