Prickly Pear (Opuntia sp.) - Almost every state in the U.S. hosts at least one species of prickly pear cactus. Big Bend is home to 9 different species and 13 varieties whose common names reflect their many forms: purple-tinged, brownspined, spinyfruit, and blind. Prickly pear often hybridize, so a single plant may have the characteristics of more than one species. As you can guess, this can make exact identification confusing and difficult. Most species of prickly pear produce an edible fruit in mid-summer. Sweet and nutritious, the fruits have been harvested for generations by all who have lived in the Big Bend region. In Mexico, the immature pads are often collected in early spring and eaten as a vegetable or pickled relish. Look in the gourmet section of your supermarket for "nopalitos" - a tasty gift from the desert.