Cactaceae
Description
This item is from "Some Common Medicinal And Poisonous Plants Used In Ethiopian Folk Medicine" work, by Amare Getahun.
Cactaceae
Opuntia vulgaris Mill.
kulkual (A)
beles (T)
tini (GH)
prickly pear (Eng)
Kulkual is a very common sight in low altitudes and dry regions of the Empire. One may be misled to think the plant is native because of its wide occurrence. In some regions, it is the dominant species. Its density is high along highways and caravan routes. The plant is native to Central America.
The colonization of pasture and range areas by kulkual is rapid indeed. Many grasslands are being taken over by it and becoming less useful as range lands with a much lowered grazing capacity. The cost of clearing for farming is also high because of the extreme difficulty in clearing the kulkual.
A moth that feeds on, and destroys, the vascular system of the plant has been employed as a biological control agent against its spread in Australia where kulkual is quite endemic over a wide area. If a light fire can be applied only enough to burn off the spines and bristles without further damage to the rest, it could be made into silage as is reportedly done in Australia.
Some members of the Ethiopian Horticultural Society, Addis Ababa, have found the dried stem-branches an excellent medium to grow epiphytes such as orchids. One may cook or boil the stem-branches and dry them before use.
In Ethiopia, spiny varieties are found and from the popularity of the fruit, spine-less varieties should be introduced. The fruit is on the market during the months of June to September Farmers and those living on the outskirts of towns drive good income from the sale of the fruit, though the prickly pear is not cultivated. To the farmers, it is a much needed complement to their diet during this non-harvest time when all food grains stored for home use are low or exhausted.
The consumption of considerable amounts causes constipation which results from a drying effect on the digestive system. But most people fond of eating the fruit have learned their own solution for this side effect, which usually means consuming large quantities of tea.
In India, the fruit is reportedly eaten for the treatment of asthma.
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