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| The Prickly Pear cactus is one of the most recognizable types of cactus in the Sonoran Desert (after the Saguaro of course!) They grow to many, many different sizes, but they all have one thing in common: the shape. Here in the foreground to the left of the path is a clump of prickly pear about 10 feet across and about 3 feet high. |
| Prickly pears are best known around here for their fruits which are a deep red color. The fruit is turned into a myriad of products including jelly, candy, and syrup. According to the Native Seed Search folks here in Tucson, the type of sugar found in the fruit is especially easy for diabetics. It is released into the blood at a slower rate than other sugars and that makes it easier to regulate blood sugar levels. |
| The picture below is one that we took while we were up visiting the Palatki Ruins site near Cottonwood. This prickly pear patch has a lot of ripe fruits on it. |
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