The prickly pear

As an unusual tree, the prickly pear is an integral part of the Sicilian landscape, making it exotic and, at the same time, a curious plant.
Originating in Mexico, this plant was imported into Sicily by the Spaniards in the XV century, and has found in the Mediterranean, the ideal climate. It is widespread in the Plain of Catania, being resistant to high temperatures. It can reach 5 meters high. The Sicilians eat the fruits that are difficult to collect because prickly. The fruits can be eaten raw, and a distilled sweet liqueur can be made from them. Shovel-shaped leaves can be used for cooking and the treatment of respiratory diseases.