Wow what a coincedence that you put this post up Uncle Jesse. I just did some research on this the other day to reinforce what I was taught in my Army Aviation Desert Survival Class.

Most cactus can be eaten or the water extracted from their pulpy cores. Also there are some cactus that when consumed will send you on a vision quest!

Both the fruit and the leaf of the prickley pear cactus can be consumed. This catus has a wide growing range as far as suitable climate goes. It will grow from parts of southern Canada to Central America. My neighbor has a beautiful prickley pear in his back yard that looks cool covered with a light dusting of snow.