{"url":"https://treescape.app/api/species/opuntia-ficus-indica/?format=json","slug":"opuntia-ficus-indica","latin_name":"Opuntia ficus-indica","description":"Opuntia ficus-indica, the Indian fig opuntia, fig opuntia, or prickly pear, is a species of cactus that has long been a domesticated crop plant grown in agricultural economies throughout arid and semiarid parts of the world. O. ficus-indica is the most widespread and most commercially important cactus. It is grown primarily as a fruit crop, and also for the vegetable nopales and other uses. Cacti are good crops for dry areas because they efficiently convert water into biomass. O. ficus-indica, as the most widespread of the long-domesticated cactuses, is as economically important as maize and blue agave in Mexico. Opuntia species hybridize easily, but the wild origin of O. ficus-indica is likely to have been in central Mexico, where its closest genetic relatives are found.","gbif_id":5384064,"image_thumbnail":"https://treescape.app/media/plant_species/images/thumbnails/opuntia-ficus-indica_thumbnail_MOXJnxf.jpg","image_large":"https://treescape.app/media/plant_species/images/large/opuntia-ficus-indica_thumbnail_s7hbOhS.jpg","properties":{"height_maximum":"5.00","height_confidence":"0.9","height_source":"https://treescape.app/api/sources/1101/?format=json","width_minimum":"0.50","width_typical":null,"width_maximum":"3.00","width_confidence":"0.8","width_source":"https://treescape.app/api/sources/1101/?format=json","soil_acidity_minimum":null,"soil_acidity_typical":null,"soil_acidity_maximum":null,"soil_acidity_confidence":null,"soil_acidity_source":null,"climate_zones":["https://treescape.app/api/climatezones/hot-desert-climate/?format=json"],"growth_habits":["https://treescape.app/api/growthhabits/shrub/?format=json"],"human_uses":["https://treescape.app/api/humanuses/edible-fruits/?format=json","https://treescape.app/api/humanuses/edible-leaves/?format=json","https://treescape.app/api/humanuses/animal-fodder/?format=json","https://treescape.app/api/humanuses/dye/?format=json"],"ecological_roles":["https://treescape.app/api/ecologicalroles/soil-erosion-control/?format=json","https://treescape.app/api/ecologicalroles/water-regulation/?format=json"],"soil_preferences":["https://treescape.app/api/soilpreference/sandy/?format=json"],"propagation_methods":[]}}