Nopalery

Quick meaning: Nopalery is a noun meaning (chiefly historical) A plantation of nopal (a prickly pear cactus of the genus Opuntia, especially Opuntia cochinellifera) used as food for the cochineal insect (Dactylopius coccus), which is raised to produce carmine dye.

Meaning

(chiefly historical) A plantation of nopal (a prickly pear cactus of the genus Opuntia, especially Opuntia cochinellifera) used as food for the cochineal insect (Dactylopius coccus), which is raised to produce carmine dye.

Example Sentences

[N]opal is the vernacular name of the cactus coccinellifer, and the cochineal plantations are called nopaleries.

A collection of these trees [nopal] is called a Nopalery, and the Indians, who cultivate the cochineal, are called Nopaleros.

This ſpecies [the wild cochineal] multiplies more readily, ſpreads further and faſter without any aſſiſtance; ſo that a nopalry is ſoon covered with them.

The cochineal industry spread rapidly, plantations called nopalries arising in such diverse regions as Spain, India, Algeria, South Africa, Jamaica, and the Canary Islands.

Word Forms

• nopaleries
• nopalry

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include nopalry, nopal, opuntia, platyopuntia, tuna, xoconostle.

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