can anyone identify this plant?

[M.A.R.]

Mexicans eat the cactus plant, which Dominicans call 'tuna', i have prepared it myself and have bought in a jar also. Its supposed to be very nutritious.

[John Evans]

just to clarify - the picture isnt a cactus (just in case anyone was going to eat one )- its euphorbia which has poisonous white latex - so dont eat it

[Chirimoya]

M.A.R., do you mean the fruit or the 'leaf' of the cactus?

Is the cactus known as 'tuna' in the DR the same as the common cactus found around the Mediterranean, which originates in the Americas anyway? The fruit of that cactus, known as prickly pear, or higo chumbo in Spain, is edible, but I don't think Dominicans eat the fruit of the 'tuna' cactus.

[John Evans]

its the same cactus- the pads or small growing green bits are eaten mostly in mexico and the red bits /fruit or pear are eaten mostly in Spain I think.....dont know which bits are eaten here

heres something to do with you nopalitos
Google Image Result for http://www.succulent-plant.com/seeds/pitaya.gif

[Chirimoya]

Originally Posted by John Evans

its the same cactus- the pads or small growing green bits are eaten mostly in mexico and the red bits /fruit or pear are eaten mostly in Spain I think.....dont know which bits are eaten here.

None as far as I know. Maybe for medicinal purposes? Prickly pear is eaten all round the Med, not just in Spain.

heres something to do with you nopalitos
Google Image Result for http://www.succulent-plant.com/seeds/pitaya.gif

That is pitahaya or pitaya, marketed in the UK as 'dragon fruit' - absolutely delicious. It can grow in the DR, but hasn't been cultivated commercially. I wish someone would. It is very popular in Central America, especially for juice.

[reese_in_va]

Thanks everyone for your posts. The "crown of thorns" is correct. It comes from the "spurge" family which also includes poinsettas, castor beans, rubber type plants and cassava (which tapioca comes from the roots). The white sap can effect certain people with sensative skin, almost resembling poison ivy rash. Also this sap is poisonous to fish, so do not plant near fish pools or ponds.
The sap has been said to be used on arrow tips.
Crown of thorns legend say's this was the plant used to wrap around Christ's head at the time of his crucifixion. The plant is native to Madagascar and has been said to arrive in the Middle East before Christ.
It's a slow starting plant, but once established really grows well. Flowers (for us) most of the year, salt tolerant.

[M.A.R.]

Originally Posted by Chirimoya

M.A.R., do you mean the fruit or the 'leaf' of the cactus?

Is the cactus known as 'tuna' in the DR the same as the common cactus found around the Mediterranean, which originates in the Americas anyway? The fruit of that cactus, known as prickly pear, or higo chumbo in Spain, is edible, but I don't think Dominicans eat the fruit of the 'tuna' cactus.

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgu...ctive%26sa%3DN

NOPAL is what they call it in Mexico. i hope the image shows.

[leekiv]

Originally Posted by M.A.R.

Google Image Result for http://www.nopalmx.com/images/Nopal5.jpg

NOPAL is what they call it in Mexico. i hope the image shows.

.....and they also say it is a hangover cure lol Wonder where I can get some up here?

[John Evans]

what do you do eat it or sit on it ?

[M.A.R.]

Originally Posted by John Evans

what do you do eat it or sit on it ?

LOL sitting on it might work for the hangover.

My ex husband told me that Japan exports tons of this stuff from Mexico.

We need to start the marketing of this in the DR.