Prickly-pear Cactus

flesh of the plant is edible raw, after removing spines and inner seeds.
taste of plant is bland or sweet to sour.
flesh can be dried for storage.
berries are edible.
seeds can be dried for storage.
dried seeds can be ground into a flour.
varieties in the Pacific Northwest include Brittle prickly-pear cactus (Opuntia fragilis) and Plains prickly-pear cactus (Opuntia polyacantha).
grows in dry open areas in prairies and foothills.

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