Viikunaopuntia – Opuntia ficus-indica

Cladodes (flattened stems resembling and functioning as a leaves) are succulent, green to blue-green, whereas the terminal cladodes are always bright green and produce the flowers and new growth. Cladodes are obovate to oblong, 20-60 cm long and 10-40 cm wide, generally a half to two-thirds as broad as long. Basal cladodes become woody with age. Specialized lateral branches (areoles) bear 3-6 unequally long (up to 3 cm) spines, or are spineless (older plants and some cultivars). Leaves, if developed, are minute, and early deciduous. Flowers are conspicuous, sessile, solitary, regular, 6-7 x 5-7 cm, on the perimeter of the cladodes. Petals are yellow or orange, oval, pointed, numerous. Stamens are numerous. Ovary is inferior. Fruit is ellipsoid, 5-10 cm long, green at first and ripening to yellow, orange, red or purple depending on the variety. Seeds are about 5 mm long, hard, the number per fruit varying from 80 to over 300.