Who is from Minas Gerais, long ago, knows the plant ora-pro-nóbis. It is common to see in Minas Gerais this plant in the backyards of the houses and in the live fences of sites and farms, besides being typical of the region to use it as food in houses and restaurants of Minas Gerais. In Minas, this plant is known as "poor steak" because it is an economical, nutritious, protein and accessible food.
Several people still do not know it and in this content will be passed important information about the attributes of this plant.
Know more about this plant and its nutritional properties as it is rich in proteins and amino acids.
The leaves of the plant ora-pro-nóbis are a good alternative food, for its rich nutritional constitution, for those who practice veganism.
To learn more about this plant, the following subjects will be shared in this content:
What is Ora-pro-nóbis?
Ora-pro-nóbis is a cactus with a habit of liana (vines), with showy flowers and leaves rich in nutritional components.
Being a climbing cactus, it is thorny, has very resistant leaves and develops easily in several types of soil, adapting well even in low fertile and humid lands.
Its leaves are used both as food and for medicinal purposes.
Its fruits, which are round yellow berries, also serve as food.
2. Scientific Name
Pereskia aculeata, is the scientific name of this plant popularly known by ora-pro-nóbis. The plant was named Pereskia, in reference to the French botanist Nicolas-Claude Fabri de Peiresc, and the term aculeata, in Latin ăcŭlĕus, means needle or thorn.
There are several Pereskias, but the only one that can be eaten is Pereskia aculeata, with white flowers and orange kernels.
3. Origin of the name ora-pro-nóbis
This plant received this popular name because in Minas Gerais it is common to find this plant in the backyards of the houses. In times of old, the miners gathered the leaves of ora-pro-nóbis in a priest's yard, while he prayed to the mass, repeating the chorus in Latin: now pro nóbis, which means now for us.
Due to this sui-generis fact, this plant came to be popularly called ora-pro-nóbis.
4. Origin and occurrence of the plant
This hardwood cactus is native to the American continent, spread from the southern United States to Argentina, and is also found in the Caribbean Islands.
In Brazil, this plant is found in the states of Maranhão, Ceará, Pernambuco, Alagoas, Sergipe, Bahia, Minas Gerais, Espírito Santo and Rio de Janeiro.