A note on the uses ofOpuntiaspp. in Central/North America

The genusOpuntiaMiller includes a number of species which produce nutritious fruits and edible young joints used as vegetables. They are also used as forage crops. The fruits and joints are a popular food in Central/North America. They produce strong and vigorous plants in arid and semi-arid climates in which few other crops can survive. They protect against soil erosion, inhibit desert advancement and protect wild life. Their water-use efficiency make theOpuntiamore efficient in converting water into dry matter than most grasses. Some species produce 26 t.ha−1.year−1.