仙人掌

仙人掌

Opuntia stricta

仙人掌（学名：Opuntia stricta (Haw.) Haw. var. dillenii (Ker-Gawl.)
Benson ）是仙人掌科缩刺仙人掌的变种。
别名：凤尾簕、龙舌、平虑草、老鸦舌、神仙掌、霸王、观音掌、观音刺、霸王

树、仙巴掌、火焰、火掌、刺巴掌、番花、麒麟花、佛手刺、避火簪
入药部位：根及茎。
性味：味苦，性寒。
归经：归胃、肺、大肠经。
功效：行气活血，凉血止血，解毒消肿。
主治：用于胃痛，痞块，痢疾，喉痛，肺热咳嗽，肺痨咯血，吐血，痔血，疮疡疔

疖，乳痈，痄腮，癣疾，蛇虫咬伤，烫伤，冻伤。

Opuntia stricta is a large sized species of cactus that is endemic
in the subtropical and tropical coastal areas of the Americas and the
Caribbean.[1] Common names include erect prickly pear and nopal
estricto (Spanish).[2] It is an erect or sprawling shrub up to 2 m (6.6 ft)
in height, producing lemon yellow flowers in the spring and summer,
followed by purplish-red fruits. It is quick to colonize hot, open
environments with sandy soils.

Medicinal:

The fruit is said to have a value in the treatment of diabetes].

Agroforestry Uses:

The plant is traditionally grown in living fences in the northwestern
Himalayas, where it helps to exclude livestock and other animals; mark
out land boundaries; whilst also providing a range of medicinal and
other uses.
The plant spreads rapidly and has been used in the past to stabilize
sand dunes, and to form hedges and living fences. Due to the plants
propensity to spread into native environments, however, this practice
should only be carried out within its native range or any other areas
where it has proved to be better behaved.