By Raymond H.C.R. No. 77 74R5225 BNL-D CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 1-1 WHEREAS, The State of Texas has traditionally recognized 1-2 certain terrestrial forms indigenous to the state as official state 1-3 symbols; and 1-4 WHEREAS, The bluebonnet, the pecan tree, and the mockingbird 1-5 are examples of some natural specimens that serve to symbolize the 1-6 rich diversity of the plains, forests, skies, and mountains of our 1-7 vast state; and 1-8 WHEREAS, In keeping with this custom, the designation of the 1-9 prickly pear cactus as an official state symbol will provide 1-10 suitable recognition for this robust and beautiful denizen of the 1-11 Texas landscape; and 1-12 WHEREAS, A native of the American Southwest and the Sonoran 1-13 Desert region of Mexico, the prickly pear cactus provided 1-14 nourishment to the earliest inhabitants of those regions; both the 1-15 sweet, fleshy fruit and the broad, flat leaves are edible, making 1-16 the prickly pear cactus one of the few plants in Texas to be 1-17 considered both a fruit and a vegetable at the same time; and 1-18 WHEREAS, While many Southwesterners are familiar with tunas, 1-19 the prickly pear fruit, few are aware that nopalitos, which are 1-20 made from the leaves, are nutritious substitutes for such 1-21 vegetables as green beans, bell peppers, okra, and squash; tunas 1-22 and nopalitos have long been staples of the Mexican diet, and their 1-23 growing popularity in Lone Star cuisine can be attributed to 1-24 Texans' appreciation for unusual and distinctive foods; and 2-1 WHEREAS, In recent years, the prickly pear cactus has been 2-2 successfully exported and naturalized to tropical areas around the 2-3 world, and it has proven to be a popular landscape choice for all 2-4 who want to have a little bit of Texas in their own backyards; and 2-5 WHEREAS, This adaptable plant can survive under many 2-6 different environmental conditions, and thus can be found from the 2-7 hill country of Central Texas to the windswept plateaus and arid 2-8 mountains of West Texas; since it thrives in a harsh climate that 2-9 few plants can bear, the prickly pear cactus is often grown as 2-10 forage for cattle and has had a tremendous positive impact on the 2-11 vital Texas cattle industry; and 2-12 WHEREAS, Because of its outstanding nutritional value as both 2-13 a vegetable and a fruit and its hardy, aggressive nature, the 2-14 prickly pear cactus has been successfully transported to dry, 2-15 drought-prone areas in Haiti, Somalia, and India, where it has 2-16 shown great promise in alleviating the famine and subsequent social 2-17 unrest that often result from long dry spells; and 2-18 WHEREAS, Rugged, versatile, and beautiful, the prickly pear 2-19 cactus has made numerous contributions to the landscape, cuisine, 2-20 and character of the Lone Star State, and its unusual status as 2-21 both a vegetable and a fruit make it singularly qualified to 2-22 represent the indomitable and unique Texas spirit as an official 2-23 state symbol; now, therefore, be it 2-24 RESOLVED, That the 74th Legislature of the State of Texas 2-25 hereby designate the prickly pear cactus as the official state 2-26 vegetable fruit of Texas.