OPUNTIA

[opun.tia] n [L, a plant, fr. fem. of opuntius of Opus, fr. Opunt-, Opus Opus, ancient city in Greece] (1601): any of a large genus (Opuntia) of cacti with usu. yellow flowers and flat or terete joints usu. studded with tubercles bearing spines or prickly hairs--compare cholla, prickly pear