Opuntia austrina
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| Opuntia austrina | |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | |
| (unranked): | |
| (unranked): | |
| (unranked): | Magnoliosida
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| Order: | Caryophyllales
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| Family: | Cactaceae
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| Genus: | Opuntia
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| Species: | O. austrina
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| Binomial name | |
| Opuntia austrina | |
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| Synonyms | |
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Cactuses found in the genus Opuntia are known as the prickly pear cactus. The species in this genus are known for their resistance to drought conditions across the Americas[1] . The species O. austrina is endemic to Florida and is known as the Florida prickly pear, with other common names such as the Devils-tongue and hammock prickly pear.
Description
O. austrina has joints (also known as cladodes[2] and pads[3] ), which are the segments that grow from the single, cylindrical stem[4] , that are elongated with the length most of the time 2 to 3 times the width[5] . The joints are often dark green in color[2]. Just like other cactus species, O. austrina has spines on the joints and on the stem. O. austrina can grow up to 1 meter in height[1], which will form large shrubs but can also form small treelets[4]. Cactus plants are flowering, and this species has yellow flowers with red fruits[3].
Habitat
This species of prickly pear is endemic to Florida, and is mostly found in South Florida[1]. Found in sandy substrates often in brushy dunes inland and mangrove edges on the coast[5]. Other native habitats that are mentioned include scrub, scrubby flatwoods, and xeric, or dry, disturbed areas[3]. The yellow flowers of this cactus attracts many pollinators in this ecosystem like bees and other insects including the dotted skipper butterfly[3].
Conservation
This cactus species is native to Florida and is considered to be endemic to Florida[3] but has been recorded in other states from iNaturalist[6] . Based on the IUCN red list this species is listed as least concern (LC)[6]. However, a threat to the genus Opuntia, prickly pear cactus, is the cactus moth, Cactoblastis cactorum[3]. This moth is an invasive species that arrived to Florida in 1989 and has been a serious threat to the cacti in this genus all over North America[3].
References
- ^ a b c [ Majure, L. C. (2010). Towards an evolutionary understanding of the Opuntia humifusa complex of North America. Cactus and Succulent Journal, 82(4), 156–163. https://doi.org/10.2985/015.082.0404]
- ^ a b [ Majure, L., Judd, W., Soltis, P., & Soltis, D. (2012). Cytogeography of the humifusa clade of Opuntia S.S. Mill. 1754 (Cactaceae, Opuntioideae, Opuntieae): Correlations with pleistocene refugia and morphological traits in a polyploid complex. Comparative Cytogenetics, 6(1), 53–77. https://doi.org/10.3897/compcytogen.v6i1.2523]
- ^ a b c d e f g Florida Native Plant Society
- ^ a b [ Majure, L. C., Soltis, D. E., Soltis, P. S., & Judd, W. S. (2013). A case of mistaken identity, Opuntia abjecta, long-lost in synonymy under the Caribbean species, O. triacantha, and a reassessment of the enigmatic O. cubensis. Brittonia, 66(2), 118–130. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12228-013-9307-z]
- ^ a b [ Ward, D. (2009). KEYS TO THE FLORA OF FLORIDA: 23, OPUNTIA (CACTACEAE). Phytologia, 91(3), 383–393. https://doi.org/https://www.phytologia.org/uploads/2/3/4/2/23422706/913383-393wardopuntia.pdf]
- ^ a b iNaturalist