Craft Edible Fruits from The Cactus Family

 "A cactus is a member of the plant family Cactaceae a family of the order Caryophyllales comprising about 127 genera with some 1,750 known species. The word cactus derives, through Latin, from the Ancient Greek word κάκτος (káktos), a name originally used by Theophrastus for a spiny plant whose identity is now not certain. Cacti occur in a wide range of shapes and sizes. They are native to the Americas, ranging from Patagonia in the south to parts of western Canada in the north, with the exception of Rhipsalis baccifera, which is also found in Africa and Sri Lanka. Cacti are adapted to live in very dry environments, including the Atacama Desert, one of the driest places on Earth. Because of this, cacti show many adaptations to conserve water. For example, almost all cacti are succulents, meaning they have thickened, fleshy parts adapted to store water. Unlike many other succulents, the stem is the only part of most cacti where this vital process takes place. Most species of cacti have lost true leaves, retaining only spines, which are highly modified leaves. As well as defending against herbivores, spines help prevent water loss by reducing air flow close to the cactus and providing some shade. In the absence of true leaves, cacti's enlarged stems carry out photosynthesis." Wikipedia. Read more...

Open and shut versions of yellow and red dragon fruits for doll market stands.

       "Pitaya or pitahaya (common names strawberry pear or dragon fruit) is the fruit of several cactus species indigenous to the region of southern Mexico and along the Pacific coasts of Guatemala, Costa Rica, and El Salvador. Pitaya is cultivated in East Asia, South Asia, Southeast Asia, the United States, the Caribbean, Australia, Brazil, and throughout tropical and subtropical regions of the world.

 

Cactus fruits made using Sculpey

       Pitaya usually refers to fruit of the genus Stenocereus, while pitahaya or dragon fruit refers to fruit of the genus Selenicereus (formerly Hylocereus), both in the family Cactaceae. The common name in English derives from the leather-like skin and scaly spikes on the fruit exterior, resembling dragon skin. Depending on the variety, pitaya fruits may have sweet- or sour-tasting flesh that can be red, white, or yellow in color." Wikipedia

       "Tuna or Prickly Pear comes from the spiny cacti of all types-flat-jointed, climbing, erect and post-like, candelabrum-branched, and tree-like - all produce large attractive flowers which develop edible fruits, generally yellow or red in color and usually conspicuous. They furnish food of agreeable taste but may be dotted with cushions of minute spines which must be thoroughly removed. A superabundance of seeds detracts from the edibility of various species. Cactus family." Dahlgren

These tiny fruits are made by pooling
 beads into white school glue and
 letting these dry before painting
 and sealing with Mod Podge.

       "Barbados Gooseberry is a  climbing  or  trailing  shrub  or  small  tree  of  the  cactus family,  with  spiny  stems,  smooth  glossy  thick  leaves,  white  flowers in  clusters,  and  juicy,  globular  fruit.
       The  fruits  are  rarely  much  more  than  one  inch  in  diameter  and  are remarkable  because  they  bear  leaves.  These,  however,  drop  off  as the  fruits  ripen  and  turn  yellow.  To  be  palatable  the  acid  fruit must  be  cooked  with  sugar." 

       On the right, I made these tiny berries using beads and gluing them directly into a hand-made cardboard basket. The handle was wrapped with twine to give it durability during handling and play. the faux 'weave' was decoupaged onto the cardboard.

Learn more about fruits in arid environments:

• homesteadonomics teaches about prickly pears
• making prickly pear jelly with Cedar Country Archery
• What does dragon fruit taste like?
• Gooseberry stew from the U.S. Virgin Islands