Barbary fig, Opuntia ficus-indica

Tuna that tastes like watermelon? The fruit of this cactus is an important food in arid tropical regions, and is called tuna. Wiki compares the taste to watermelon. Barbary fig grows to fifteen feet. I had to borrow a ladder to get this shot. Those of us that live in temperate areas don't think of cacti as economically important crops, but this one is. It has been in cultivation since ancient times, and has evolved through human selection from other species. Barbary fig now grows wild in AZ, CA, FL, GA, HI, NC, NM, and TX. Hidden Lake Gardens, Lenawee Co MI, 6/2/15. Cactus family, Cactaceae.