Opuntia robustaWendl. J.C
Opuntia robustaWendl. J.C Bahasa Indonesia klik di sini


Source: Private document, 2022

Taxonomy
Kingdom: Plantae
Phylum: Magnoliophyta
Subphylum: Spermatophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Caryophyllales
Family:Cactaceae
Genus: Opuntia
Species: Opuntia robusta Wendl.J.C
(John Christoph Wendland, 1987)


Stem


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Source: Private document, 2022

Morphology
According to llifle Encyclopedia of Living Forms (2005), opuntia robusta Wendl.J.C. is known as “wheel cactus” because it has a circular segment shape. This cactus plant has many branches, the trunk is erect, its height is reach 4 up to 6 meters. Generaly, the stem grows by 1up to 2 meters, the length of the flowers reaches 5 up to 8 cm, and when flowering, its bright yellow. The fruit is round, firstly in the form of tubercles 7 up to 9 cm long in dark yellowish red and slightly green when young.

Distribution & Habitat
According to international agricultural data, this plant is native to western Europe and spread to Northern and Central Mexico, Arizona, North and South America then disseminated to New Zealand, South Europe, South Africa, Madagascar, and Australia to be precise South Australia.

Potential
The flesh of the fruit contains 10-15% reducing sugar, antioxidants in the form of vitamin C 180-300 mg / kg, beta-carotene, betanin and indicaxanthin, ascorbic acid 10-400 mg / kg, vitamin K1, free amino acids, taurine, calcium and magnesium (Anwar, 2015).

Usability
Its fruit can be used to produce the animal food. By the local Mexican this plant is usually consumed directly. This type of cactus can be used as a basic ingredient for food such as flour and sweets. The plant can be used to cure irritations, itches, allergies, burns, and wounds from insect bites, and anti-aging remedy.

References
Opuntia Robusta. 2005. CC-BY-SA Creative Attribution License. www.llile.com. Retrieved from: /Encyclopedia/CACTI/Family/Cactaceae/32724/Opuntia_robusta

Anwar (2015). Kandungan Kaktus Jenis Opuntia