First of all, let me introduce to you the edible value of a cactus flower. The fleshy stems of most cacti in their native areas are not only used as feed for livestock, but are also edible. The tender stems of some cactus are sold as vegetables in the market. They are pickled with salt and eaten as cold dishes. They are crisp and refreshing. They are delicious when cooked. If they are boiled with sugar, they can be processed into preserves, which not only has a unique flavor. , and quite nutritious.
The dragon fruit on the market today is a cactus fruit of the genus Dimensalis. It is shaped like a large mango, pink in color, sweet and delicious, and has become a fruit that people use to stimulate body fluids and quench their thirst in hot weather. In the coastal areas of Guangdong and Fujian in my country, the flowers of Tianzhi (also known as Triangular Arrow, Triangular Pillar, and Overlord Flower) have become a precious and delicious dish. Whether they are fresh or dried, they can be paired with meat. Stir-fried or boiled in soup, it not only tastes delicious, but also has the effect of moistening the lungs and clearing away heat. The production volume in Zhaoqing, Guangdong and Jinjiang, Fujian is extremely high, and the dried flower products have become famous local specialties, selling well in Hong Kong, Macao and Southeast Asia. Of greater interest, however, are the medicinal properties of peyote. According to the "Dictionary of Traditional Chinese Medicine" published in 1977, the flowers of Epiphyllum epiphyllum are brewed into rock sugar and taken orally. It has the effects of clearing away heat from the lungs, relieving cough and reducing phlegm, and is mainly used to treat tuberculosis. According to folk herbal prescriptions in Nanning, Guangxi, the stems of the crab claw can be pounded and applied externally to treat sores, scabies and swollen poisons. The abnormal stems of Golden Boy are pounded and applied externally to treat mumps and lung tumors. According to the "National Collection of Chinese Herbal Medicine", the stems of Opuntia dillenii can be decoctioned or soaked in wine to treat dysentery, hemorrhoids and other diseases. Some species of cactus contain a variety of alkaloids. The fleshy stems of the black feather jade contain mescalin, an alkaloid that has hallucinogenic and narcotic effects. According to records, American scientists discovered that Wuyu Jade contains anti-cancer ingredients and is particularly effective in treating lung cancer, which attracted the attention of the medical community.
It should also be pointed out that recently it has been discovered that the mucus in the fleshy stems of cactus has a good water purification effect and is a purifier for field workers to use on-site natural water bodies. The juice of some cactus fruits has long been used as a safe edible red pigment. There is a cactus called nopal, which can be used as a host to cultivate cochineal insects and extract precious natural red dye.
Most cacti have unique biological characteristics: they close their stomata during the day to reduce the evaporation of water in the body, and only open their stomata at night to absorb carbon dioxide and produce oxygen. At the same time, it absorbs and digests the carbon dioxide produced during breathing. If a cactus is placed indoors at night, it can purify the air and be beneficial to human health.
2 Edible cactus
In Mexico, cactus has long been a delicacy on people’s tables.
But in our country, the use of cactus as a vegetable seems to have just begun. "Mibonta" is a new cactus variety that has been bred by Mexican experts for many years and is mainly edible and has multiple uses. After introduction, demonstration, promotion and application by the Quality Product Development Center of the Ministry of Agriculture and verification by nutrition experts, it is a new type of health-care vegetable variety suitable for planting and promotion in my country. At the same time, it is also valuable in medicinal, ornamental, fruit, beauty, environmental protection and other aspects.
Although "Mibonta" does not look amazing, it is full of treasures and rich in nutrients. It is rich in potassium, calcium, steel, iron, manganese, molybdenum and other minerals, as well as citric acid, malic acid, Phospholipids, vitamins, fibers, etc. have the functions of promoting qi and blood circulation, clearing heat and detoxifying, promoting metabolism, lowering blood sugar, and lowering blood lipids. In particular, it does not contain oxalic acid and is extremely beneficial to the body's absorption of calcium. It is a good calcium supplement for children and middle-aged and elderly people. It has good palatability. If cut into shreds, the whole body is green and transparent. It is loved by everyone. It has a refreshing fragrance and no peculiar smell.
It can be used for stir-fry, soup, or cold dressing. It is also the best raw material for making cans, drinks, and salads. Its fruit is a new type of fruit that is both beautiful and delicious. It is very popular in large supermarkets and vegetable and fruit markets in Mexico. "Mibonta" edible human palm is thick, easy to grow, has strong resistance, has few pests and diseases, and does not require the use of pesticides and chemical fertilizers. It is the first choice for producing green pollution-free vegetables and health food. It is a perennial plant that can be planted once and harvested continuously for more than 10 years. Unlike other vegetables, a series of management such as land preparation and fertilization are required every year or every season, which greatly reduces the process and costs. The plants have no or few thorns and are easy to manage; they can be harvested about 2 months after planting, and can be harvested again in the next half month to 20 days. If the climate is suitable, they can be marketed every year.
"Mibonta" edible cactus likes a warm, dry, ventilated environment and strong light. It is susceptible to frost damage below 0 degrees, so it should be kept above 5 degrees for productive cultivation; under normal circumstances, watering is not necessary, and drainage should be paid attention to during the rainy season. Avoid shading throughout the year to ensure adequate sunlight. Cacti prefer sandy, slightly alkaline soil. If the soil is heavy, you can apply more organic base fertilizer to increase permeability. It is also a shallow-rooted plant, so be careful to prevent it from lodging in case of strong winds and heavy rains. Mainly asexual reproduction is used. When the palm pieces are semi-lignified, use a sharp knife to cut them along the base. Treat the incision with carbendazim powder, dry it slightly, and put the cuttings in a loose matrix. Do not water after cutting. After rooting, return to normal management
An old hen on top of a cactus
"East China Information News"
When it comes to cactus, people will think of its sharp thorns, which is surprising. A sense of distance.
But in Xiangshan, Zhejiang, the cactus has been cultivated and used as a delicacy.
The edible cacti cultivated by the Ningbo Bay Efficient Agricultural Development Center, a subsidiary of the Damutu Company in Xiangshan County, have all been ordered at a price of 20 yuan per piece. A cactus petal is sold for the price of an old hen. On the morning of March 21, Beijing Zhongyou Industrial Company took away the first batch of 8,000 pieces of cacti put into production. In September last year, with the help of the Quality Agricultural Products Development Center of the Ministry of Agriculture, the center introduced edible cactus varieties from Mexico. The plants grow well in saline-alkali soil. After identification by the Germplasm Improvement Laboratory of the National Vegetable System Engineering Technology Research Center, it is believed that this variety is rich in nutrients such as potassium, calcium, steel, iron, manganese, strontium, brass-like substances and polysaccharides, and is a more developed species. Potential vegetarian dishes and health foods. According to the person in charge of the Ningbo Bay Efficient Agricultural Development Center, vegetable cactus is simple to cultivate, extremely labor-saving, and basically does not use pesticides. It is a pollution-free vegetable with an output value of 20,000 to 30,000 yuan per mu. The product is currently sold in Beijing, Shanghai and other places and is favored by citizens. More than 40 kinds of cactus dishes have been developed. It is reported that this year the center will further expand its scale and spread planting to surrounding farmers. (Kang Huan Zhenming)
3 Medicinal uses of cactus
Cactus used as medicine
The roots and stems of cactus, a plant of the Cactaceae family, are used medicinally in my country. (Opuntia ellenii Haw) is a shrub, 1 to 3 meters high, the lower part of the stem is slightly woody, nearly cylindrical, the upper part is fleshy, flat green, with nodes;
Each node is oval to oblong, 15 in length —30 cm, bright, scattered with numerous tumors, each small tumor is densely covered with yellowish-brown curly soft hairs and sharp spines. The leaves are small, lanceolate, with a pointed apex, purplish red, and a green base. They are born under the spines of each small tumor and fall early. The flowers are yellow, 7-8 cm in diameter, solitary or clustered on the stem. Top edge;
Many stamens, 1 pistil, style white, berries, fleshy, oval, purple-red.
There are many seeds, flowering in summer and fruit ripening in autumn