Awinash P. Bhatkar, PhD, Coordinator for Biosecurity and Agriculture Resource Management. The fruit is sold under the name Tuna - the branches or pads are eaten as a vegetable (called nopalito o… Prickly Pear Cactus in bloom © Arizona Sky Village (all rights reserved; used by permission). All State Plants. Cacti in general (and the fruits in particular) are still staple foods for some residents of Mexico and Latin America and the prickly pear cactus is raised commercially. Texas Dept. I pledge allegiance to thee, Texas, List of official state plants, grasses, shrubs, cacti, herbs, agricultural plants, arboretums, and more … photos and fun facts. The prickly pear cactus was designated the official plant symbol of Texas in 1995. [citation needed], Honor the Texas flag; RESOLVED, That the 74th Legislature of the State of Texas hereby designate the prickly pear cactus as the official state plant of Texas. one state under God, Cacti in general (and the fruits in particular) are still staple foods for some residents of Mexico and Latin America and the prickly pear cactus is raised commercially. The Living Library garden supports the department's Horticulture program and includes plants that are not seen anywhere else on campus. The prickly pear cactus was designated the official plant symbol of Texas in 1995. A pledge of allegiance to the Texas flag was established in 1933. As of early 2016, the North Central Texas plant list has been reviewed and updated by a group of horticulture and landscape professional … The fruit is sold under the name Tuna - the branches or pads are eaten as a vegetable (called nopalito or nopales). The Central Plant's Electrical switchgear is capable of distributing more than 17 million watts of electrical power. Found in the deserts of the American southwest, the fruits of most prickly pear cacti are edible, and have been a source of food to native Americans for thousands of years. About Texas State; … Physical Address: Texas State University Physical Plant Complex 151-2 E. Sessom Dr San Marcos, TX 78666-4684 Phone: 512-245-2148 Site Map. Found in the deserts of the American southwest, the fruits of most prickly pear cacti are edible, and have been a source of food to native Americans for thousands of years. The name cactus is derived from the Greek word kaktos, which means prickly plant. of Agriculture Four ships of the United States Navy and one in the Confederate States Navy have borne the name Texas: List of U.S. state, district, and territorial insignia, "How did bluebonnets become state flower", "Texas State Bird - Northern Mockingbird", "Texas State Symbols - Texas State Library and Archives Commission - TSLAC", National Register of Historic Places Sites, State, district, and territorial insignia, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_Texas_state_symbols&oldid=991297717, Lists of United States state symbols by state, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles with unsourced statements from December 2019, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 29 November 2020, at 09:39. Texas.gov may redirect the message to a specific state agency or local government if Texas.gov staff believes that the state agency or local government may be more qualified to respond. The Central Plant, East Plant, and West Plant supply the steam, chilled water, and electricity for Texas State. The plant list was first created in 2001 for the North Central Texas region. State Plant Regulatory Official. The fruit is sold under the name, Source | Reference Links | Additional Resources, State Symbols: Texas State Library & Archives, The Prickly Pear Cactus: McGraw Hill Education, Cacti of the El Paso Texas Region: photos by Clark Champie, Prickly Pear Cactus: RAIN, Public Internet Broadcasting. one and indivisible.[7]. Found in the deserts of the American southwest, the fruits of most prickly pear cacti are edible, and have been a source of food to native Americans for thousands of years. They are easily propagated from seeds and cuttings, so removing plants from their natural habitat is uneccessary and harmful to the delicate desert ecosystem. Cacti and other succulents face a variety of threats in their natural environment. Plant: Prickly pear cactus: 1995: Play: Fort Griffin Fandangle, The Lone Star, Texas, Beyond … Mailing Address. The following is a list of symbols of the U.S. state of Texas. A few years later, a West Texas list was added to the database. PRICKLY Prickly pear cactus; photo by Cary & Darla on Flickr (noncommercial use permitted with attribution / share alike). WHEREAS, The State of Texas has traditionally recognized certain terrestrial forms indigenous to the state as official state symbols; and, WHEREAS, The bluebonnet, the pecan tree, and the mockingbird are examples of some natural specimens that serve to symbolize the rich diversity of the plains, forests, skies, and mountains of our vast state; and, WHEREAS, In keeping with this custom, the designation of the prickly pear cactus as the official state plant will provide suitable recognition for this hearty and beautiful denizen of the Texas landscape; and, WHEREAS, A native of the American Southwest and the Sonoran Desert region of Mexico, the prickly pear cactus provided nourishment to the earliest inhabitants of those regions, and both the sweet, fleshy fruit and the broad, flat stems were incorporated into tasty dishes; and, WHEREAS, Tunas, the prickly pear fruit, and nopales, which are made from the stem, have since become staples of the Mexican diet, and their growing popularity in Lone Star cuisine can be attributed to Texans' appreciation for unusual and distinctive foods; and, WHEREAS, In recent years, the prickly pear cactus has been successfully exported and naturalized to tropical areas around the world, and it has proven to be a popular landscape choice for all who want to have a little bit of Texas in their own backyards; and, WHEREAS, This adaptable plant can survive under many different environmental conditions, and thus can be found from the hill country of Central Texas to the windswept plateaus and arid mountains of West Texas; because it thrives in a harsh climate that few plants can bear, the prickly pear cactus is often grown as forage for cattle and has had a tremendous positive impact on the vital Texas cattle industry; and, WHEREAS, Rugged, versatile, and uniquely beautiful, the prickly pear cactus has made numerous contributions to the landscape, cuisine, and character of the Lone Star State, and thus it is singularly qualified to represent the indomitable and proud Texas spirit as an official state symbol; now, therefore, be it. Cacti in general (and the fruits in particular) are still staple foods for some residents of Mexico and Latin America and the prickly pear cactus is raised commercially.