o·pun·ti·a 
(ō-pŭnshē-ə, -shə)
(ō-pŭnshē-ə, -shə)n.
Any of various cacti of the genus Opuntia of the Americas, having stems with flat or cylindrical jointed segments and small easily detached spines, and including the chollas and the prickly pears.
[Latin (herba) Opūntia, Opuntian (herb), feminine of Opūntius, of Opus, an ancient town of east-central Greece, from Opūs, Opūnt-, Opus, from Greek Opous, Opount-.]