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Opuntia austrina

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Species of cactus

Opuntia austrina
In Lake June-in-Winter Scrub State Park, Lake Placid, Florida
Conservation status

Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Cactaceae
Genus: Opuntia
Species: O. austrina
Binomial name
Opuntia austrina
Small
  Range
Synonyms
  • Opuntia ammophila
  • Opuntia atrocapensis
  • Opuntia compressa var. ammophila
  • Opuntia compressa var. austrina
  • Opuntia cumulicola

Opuntia austrina, also known as the Florida prickly pear (with other common names such as the devils-tongue and hammock prickly pear), is a prickly pear cactus species that is endemic to Florida in the United States.

Description

Opuntia austrina has joints (also known as cladodes and pads), which are the segments that grow from the single, cylindrical stem, that are elongated with the length most of the time 2 to 3 times the width. The joints are often dark green in color. Just like other cactus species, O. austrina has spines on the joints and on the stem. O. austrina can grow up to 1 m (3 ft 3 in) in height, which will form large shrubs but can also form small treelets. This cactus' plants are flowering, with yellow flowers that produce red fruits.

Habitat

This species of prickly pear is mostly found in South Florida, in sandy substrates often in brushy dunes inland and mangrove edges on the coast. Other native habitats include scrub, scrubby flatwoods, and xeric, or dry, disturbed areas. The yellow flowers of this cactus attracts many pollinators in this ecosystem like bees and other insects including the dotted skipper.

Conservation

This cactus species is considered to be endemic to Florida, but has been also recorded in other states. This species is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN Red List. However, a potential threat is one found in all members of the genus Opuntia – the cactus moth (Cactoblastis cactorum), 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.

References

  1. ^ Majure, L.; Griffith, P. (2017) . "Opuntia austrina". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017: e.T199642A121620558. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T199642A121620558.en.
  2. ^ 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. doi:10.3897/compcytogen.v6i1.2523. PMC 3833768. PMID 24260652. S2CID 36891450.
  3. ^ "Opuntia austrina". Florida Native Plant Society.
  4. ^ 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. doi:10.1007/s12228-013-9307-z. S2CID 255561679.
  5. ^ Ward, D. (2009). "KEYS TO THE FLORA OF FLORIDA: 23, OPUNTIA (CACTACEAE)" (PDF). Phytologia. 91 (3): 383–393.
  6. ^ Majure, L. C. (2010). "Towards an evolutionary understanding of the Opuntia humifusa complex of North America". Cactus and Succulent Journal. 82 (4): 156–163. doi:10.2985/015.082.0404. S2CID 85042504.
  7. "Opuntia austrina". iNaturalist.
Taxon identifiers
Opuntia austrina
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