ficus-indicus. It is naturalized in S. Florida. http// plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=OPUNT

This post was last modified: 02-21-2008 06:13 PM by Itort.

Nice , thanks!

Ok the above link didn't work for me so here it is fixed (i hope)
http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=OPUNT

what about removing them from your finger? i got the tiniest little tip of one stuck in my thumb today and how can something so small hurt so bad? i can't get it out! ARGH!

I've literally torn my fingers apart trying to get them out some say take a credit card and scrape it along the area to help pull it out. I never found this helped. Eventually they will come out and stop hurting. Persistence and patience with tweezers and a magnifying glass sometimes pays off. I have learned to handle with thick gloves or with tongs only.

To remove from flesh you betadine (stains spines), tweezers, a needle, and some spare time. I normally handle mine with thin gloves or newspaper. When hiking in area with cactus and my dog, I always carried needle-nose pliers (he would collect them in his fur and pads).

soak it with espson salt and water/

Never thought of using betadine to stain Great idea and would make it sooooooo much easier to see. Thanks for the idea.