Difference between revisions of "Opuntia humifusa"
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==Distribution== | ==Distribution== | ||
| − | It is the only cactus to be widespread in the eastern United States. <ref name="wildflower">[[http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=OPHU]] Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. Accessed: February 12, 2016</ref> It is mainly restricted to the Appalachian Mountains, in states like Deleware, Maryland, New Jersey, Virginia, and West Virginia, but also occurs in central and northcentral Mississippi. Further surveying could reveal populations in Alabama, northwestern Georgia, western South Carolina, western North Carolina, and northeastern Tennessee.<ref name="weakley">Weakley, A.S. 2015. Flora of the southern and mid-atlantic states. Working Draft of 21 May 2015. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina.</ref> | + | It is the only cactus to be widespread in the eastern United States.<ref name="wildflower">[[http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=OPHU]] Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. Accessed: February 12, 2016</ref> It is mainly restricted to the Appalachian Mountains, in states like Deleware, Maryland, New Jersey, Virginia, and West Virginia, but also occurs in central and northcentral Mississippi. Further surveying could reveal populations in Alabama, northwestern Georgia, western South Carolina, western North Carolina, and northeastern Tennessee.<ref name="weakley">Weakley, A.S. 2015. Flora of the southern and mid-atlantic states. Working Draft of 21 May 2015. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina.</ref> |
==Ecology== | ==Ecology== | ||
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In Central Florida, ''O. humifusa'' exhibits no response to soil disturbance by some clearcutting. Bracket seeding, high-severity burn, and salvage logging. However, it responds positively to some clearcutting single roller chopping, and broadcast seeding.<ref>Greenberg, C.H., D.G. Neary, L.D. Harris, and S.P. Linda. (1995). Vegetation Recovery Following High-intensity Wildfire and Silvicultural Treatments in Sand Pine Scrub. American Midland Naturalist 133(1):149-163.</ref> It also responds both negatively or not at all to soil disturbance by roller chopping in Northwest Florida sandhills.<ref>Hebb, E.A. (1971). Site Preparation Decreases Game Food Plants in Florida Sandhills. The Journal of Wildlife Management 35(1):155-162.</ref> | In Central Florida, ''O. humifusa'' exhibits no response to soil disturbance by some clearcutting. Bracket seeding, high-severity burn, and salvage logging. However, it responds positively to some clearcutting single roller chopping, and broadcast seeding.<ref>Greenberg, C.H., D.G. Neary, L.D. Harris, and S.P. Linda. (1995). Vegetation Recovery Following High-intensity Wildfire and Silvicultural Treatments in Sand Pine Scrub. American Midland Naturalist 133(1):149-163.</ref> It also responds both negatively or not at all to soil disturbance by roller chopping in Northwest Florida sandhills.<ref>Hebb, E.A. (1971). Site Preparation Decreases Game Food Plants in Florida Sandhills. The Journal of Wildlife Management 35(1):155-162.</ref> | ||
| − | It occurs in southern Canada, where average nighttime temperatures can reach -4 degrees Celsius. In order to prevent intracellular freeze dehydration and ice formation, individuals have an accumulation of sugars and mannitol in their cells. <ref name=gold/> | + | It occurs in southern Canada, where average nighttime temperatures can reach -4 degrees Celsius. In order to prevent intracellular freeze dehydration and ice formation, individuals have an accumulation of sugars and mannitol in their cells.<ref name=gold/> |
===Phenology=== <!--Timing off flowering, fruiting, seed dispersal, and environmental triggers. Cite PanFlora website if appropriate: http://www.gilnelson.com/PanFlora/ --> | ===Phenology=== <!--Timing off flowering, fruiting, seed dispersal, and environmental triggers. Cite PanFlora website if appropriate: http://www.gilnelson.com/PanFlora/ --> | ||
''O. humifusa'' has been observed flowering April through July with peak inflorescence in May and fruiting January, May, and December.<ref name="FSU Herbarium"/><ref>Nelson, G. [http://www.gilnelson.com/ PanFlora]: Plant data for the eastern United States with emphasis on the Southeastern Coastal Plains, Florida, and the Florida Panhandle. www.gilnelson.com/PanFlora/ Accessed: 12 DEC 2016</ref> | ''O. humifusa'' has been observed flowering April through July with peak inflorescence in May and fruiting January, May, and December.<ref name="FSU Herbarium"/><ref>Nelson, G. [http://www.gilnelson.com/ PanFlora]: Plant data for the eastern United States with emphasis on the Southeastern Coastal Plains, Florida, and the Florida Panhandle. www.gilnelson.com/PanFlora/ Accessed: 12 DEC 2016</ref> | ||
| − | Root stocks and detached cladodes can propagate vegetatively for up to 12 months after detachment. <ref name=gold/> | + | Root stocks and detached cladodes can propagate vegetatively for up to 12 months after detachment.<ref name=gold/> |
===Seed dispersal=== | ===Seed dispersal=== | ||
| − | This species is thought to be dispersed by consumption by vertebrates. <ref> Kirkman, L. Katherine. Unpublished database of seed dispersal mode of plants found in Coastal Plain longleaf pine-grasslands of the Jones Ecological Research Center, Georgia.</ref> The fruit is eaten and dispersed by birds, rabbits, woodrats, prairie-dogs, mice, ground squirrels, and white-tailed deer. <ref name="fs">[[http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/cactus/opuhum/all.html]] Accessed: February 13, 2016</ref> | + | This species is thought to be dispersed by consumption by vertebrates.<ref> Kirkman, L. Katherine. Unpublished database of seed dispersal mode of plants found in Coastal Plain longleaf pine-grasslands of the Jones Ecological Research Center, Georgia.</ref> The fruit is eaten and dispersed by birds, rabbits, woodrats, prairie-dogs, mice, ground squirrels, and white-tailed deer.<ref name="fs">[[http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/cactus/opuhum/all.html]] Accessed: February 13, 2016</ref> |
===Seed bank and germination=== | ===Seed bank and germination=== | ||
| − | The germination rate is low. <ref name="fs"/> ''O. humifusa'' is known to occur in above-ground vegetation and in the fall surveyed seed bank in the southern ridge sandhill regions in south-central Florida. <ref>Lang, N. L. 2011. Soil seed bank dynamics of southern Lake Wales Ridge sandhill communities. Archbold Biological Station, Venus, Florida,15 pg. </ref> | + | The germination rate is low.<ref name="fs"/> ''O. humifusa'' is known to occur in above-ground vegetation and in the fall surveyed seed bank in the southern ridge sandhill regions in south-central Florida.<ref>Lang, N. L. 2011. Soil seed bank dynamics of southern Lake Wales Ridge sandhill communities. Archbold Biological Station, Venus, Florida,15 pg. </ref> |
===Fire ecology=== <!--Fire tolerance, fire dependence, adaptive fire responses--> | ===Fire ecology=== <!--Fire tolerance, fire dependence, adaptive fire responses--> | ||
| − | O. humifusa will resprout and recruit seedlings during post-fire recovery. <ref>Lang, N. L. 2011. Soil seed bank dynamics of southern Lake Wales Ridge sandhill communities. Archbold Biological Station, Venus, Florida,15 pg. </ref> | + | O. humifusa will resprout and recruit seedlings during post-fire recovery.<ref>Lang, N. L. 2011. Soil seed bank dynamics of southern Lake Wales Ridge sandhill communities. Archbold Biological Station, Venus, Florida,15 pg. </ref> |
===Pollination=== | ===Pollination=== | ||
| − | The following Hymenoptera families and species were observed visiting flowers of ''Opuntia humifusa'' at Archbold Biological Station: <ref name="Deyrup 2015">Deyrup, M.A. and N.D. 2015. Database of observations of Hymenoptera visitations to flowers of plants on Archbold Biological Station, Florida, USA.</ref> | + | The following Hymenoptera families and species were observed visiting flowers of ''Opuntia humifusa'' at Archbold Biological Station:<ref name="Deyrup 2015">Deyrup, M.A. and N.D. 2015. Database of observations of Hymenoptera visitations to flowers of plants on Archbold Biological Station, Florida, USA.</ref> |
Apidae: ''Apis mellifera, Bombus impatiens, B. pennsylvanicus, Mellisodes communis'' | Apidae: ''Apis mellifera, Bombus impatiens, B. pennsylvanicus, Mellisodes communis'' | ||
| Line 64: | Line 64: | ||
===Use by animals=== <!--Herbivory, granivory, insect hosting, etc.--> | ===Use by animals=== <!--Herbivory, granivory, insect hosting, etc.--> | ||
| − | It is an important food for pocket gophers. <ref name=myers> Myers, G. T. and T. A. Vaughan (1964). "Food Habits of the Plains Pocket Gopher in Eastern Colorado." Journal of Mammalogy 45(4): 588-598.</ref> It is a host to the invasive cactus moth (''Cactoblastis cactorum''). <ref name=jez> Jezorek, H. and P. Stiling (2012). "LACK OF ASSOCIATIONAL EFFECTS BETWEEN TWO HOSTS OF AN INVASIVE HERBIVORE: OPUNTIA SPP. AND CACTOBLASTIS CACTORUM (LEPIDOPTERA: PYRALIDAE)." The Florida Entomologist 95(4): 1048-1057. </ref> The large pads provides nesting to bobwhite quail. <ref name="illinois">[[http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/prairie/plantx/prickly_pearx.htm]]Illinois Wildflowers. Accessed: February 15, 2016</ref> | + | It is an important food for pocket gophers.<ref name=myers> Myers, G. T. and T. A. Vaughan (1964). "Food Habits of the Plains Pocket Gopher in Eastern Colorado." Journal of Mammalogy 45(4): 588-598.</ref> It is a host to the invasive cactus moth (''Cactoblastis cactorum'').<ref name=jez> Jezorek, H. and P. Stiling (2012). "LACK OF ASSOCIATIONAL EFFECTS BETWEEN TWO HOSTS OF AN INVASIVE HERBIVORE: OPUNTIA SPP. AND CACTOBLASTIS CACTORUM (LEPIDOPTERA: PYRALIDAE)." The Florida Entomologist 95(4): 1048-1057. </ref> The large pads provides nesting to bobwhite quail.<ref name="illinois">[[http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/prairie/plantx/prickly_pearx.htm]]Illinois Wildflowers. Accessed: February 15, 2016</ref> |
<!--===Diseases and parasites===--> | <!--===Diseases and parasites===--> | ||
Revision as of 12:13, 29 September 2020
| Opuntia humifusa | |
|---|---|
| |
| Photo by Wayne Matchett, SpaceCoastWildflowers.com | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Division: | Magnoliophyta - Flowering plants |
| Class: | Magnoliopsida – Dicotyledons |
| Order: | Caryophyllales |
| Family: | Cactaceae |
| Genus: | Opuntia |
| Species: | O. humifusa |
| Binomial name | |
| Opuntia humifusa (Raf.) Raf. | |
| |
| Natural range of Opuntia humifusa from USDA NRCS Plants Database. | |
Common names: Devil's-tongue; Eastern prickly pear[1]
Contents
Taxonomic notes
Synonyms: Opuntia compressa (Salisbury) J.F. Macbride var. compressa; O. impedita Small; O. macrarthra Gibbes; O. opuntia (Linnaeus) Karten; O. calcicola Wherry; O. rafinesquei Engelmann.[1]
Varieties: none.[1]
Description
A description of Opuntia humifusa is provided in The Flora of North America.
The leaves of O. humifusa are 1.5-6 cm long, with the longest leaves having an acute to acuminate tip. The hairs of the leaf surfaces are similarly long and the leaf sheaths and culm axis are glabrate to pilose with hairs shorter than 1.5 mm. The awns are glabrous and the lemma is 9-11 veined.[1]
Distribution
It is the only cactus to be widespread in the eastern United States.[2] It is mainly restricted to the Appalachian Mountains, in states like Deleware, Maryland, New Jersey, Virginia, and West Virginia, but also occurs in central and northcentral Mississippi. Further surveying could reveal populations in Alabama, northwestern Georgia, western South Carolina, western North Carolina, and northeastern Tennessee.[1]
Ecology
Habitat
Opuntia humifusa can occur in upland longleaf pines, sand dunes, Pinus clausa scrubs, open sand flats, sandhills, and pine/oak scrubs. It has been found in disturbed areas such as loblolly tree farms and roadside depressions. Associated species include Lyonia ferruginea, Lyonia lucida, Serenoa repens, Quercus geminata, Q. chapmanii, Persea humilis, Ceratiola, Osmanthus megacarpus, Rhynchospora megalocarpa, Galactia elliottii, and Smilax auriculata.[3] In Central Florida, O. humifusa exhibits no response to soil disturbance by some clearcutting. Bracket seeding, high-severity burn, and salvage logging. However, it responds positively to some clearcutting single roller chopping, and broadcast seeding.[4] It also responds both negatively or not at all to soil disturbance by roller chopping in Northwest Florida sandhills.[5]
It occurs in southern Canada, where average nighttime temperatures can reach -4 degrees Celsius. In order to prevent intracellular freeze dehydration and ice formation, individuals have an accumulation of sugars and mannitol in their cells.[6]
Phenology
O. humifusa has been observed flowering April through July with peak inflorescence in May and fruiting January, May, and December.[3][7]
Root stocks and detached cladodes can propagate vegetatively for up to 12 months after detachment.[6]
Seed dispersal
This species is thought to be dispersed by consumption by vertebrates.[8] The fruit is eaten and dispersed by birds, rabbits, woodrats, prairie-dogs, mice, ground squirrels, and white-tailed deer.[9]
Seed bank and germination
The germination rate is low.[9] O. humifusa is known to occur in above-ground vegetation and in the fall surveyed seed bank in the southern ridge sandhill regions in south-central Florida.[10]
Fire ecology
O. humifusa will resprout and recruit seedlings during post-fire recovery.[11]
Pollination
The following Hymenoptera families and species were observed visiting flowers of Opuntia humifusa at Archbold Biological Station:[12]
Apidae: Apis mellifera, Bombus impatiens, B. pennsylvanicus, Mellisodes communis
Halictidae: Agapostemon splendens, Augochlorella aurata, Augochloropsis sumptuosa, Halictus poeyi, Lasioglossum nymphalis, L. puteulanum
Megachilidae: Dianthidium floridiense, Lithurgus gibbosus, Megachile brevis pseudobrevis, M. policaris
Use by animals
It is an important food for pocket gophers.[13] It is a host to the invasive cactus moth (Cactoblastis cactorum).[14] The large pads provides nesting to bobwhite quail.[15]
Conservation and management
Cultivation and restoration
Native Americans used the pads to heal wounds, warts, and drank pad tea for respiratory issues.[2]
Photo Gallery
Flowers of Opuntia humifusa Photo by Wayne Matchett, SpaceCoastWildflowers.com
References and notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Weakley, A.S. 2015. Flora of the southern and mid-atlantic states. Working Draft of 21 May 2015. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 [[1]] Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. Accessed: February 12, 2016
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Florida State University Robert K. Godfrey Herbarium database. URL: http://herbarium.bio.fsu.edu. Last accessed: October 2015. Collectors: Loran C. Anderson, Michael Blaker, M. Borgman, James R. Burkhaulter, George R. Cooley, R.J. Eaton, Patricia Elliott, J. Kevin England, Robert K. Godfrey, Darren Jackson, Ed Keppner, Lisa Keppner, Andrew McAllister, Sidney McDaniel, K.M. Meyer, James D. Ray Jr., Erik Robinson, L. Rosen, C.E. Smith, A. Townesmith, Kenneth A. Wilson, Carroll E. Wood Jr.. States and Counties: Alabama: Dale. Florida: Alabama, Escambia, Franklin, Gadsden, Hernando, Jackson, Lafayette, Leon, Liberty, Orange, Putnam, Seminole, Walton, Wakulla, Washington. Compiled by Tall Timbers Research Station and Land Conservancy.
- ↑ Greenberg, C.H., D.G. Neary, L.D. Harris, and S.P. Linda. (1995). Vegetation Recovery Following High-intensity Wildfire and Silvicultural Treatments in Sand Pine Scrub. American Midland Naturalist 133(1):149-163.
- ↑ Hebb, E.A. (1971). Site Preparation Decreases Game Food Plants in Florida Sandhills. The Journal of Wildlife Management 35(1):155-162.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedgold - ↑ Nelson, G. PanFlora: Plant data for the eastern United States with emphasis on the Southeastern Coastal Plains, Florida, and the Florida Panhandle. www.gilnelson.com/PanFlora/ Accessed: 12 DEC 2016
- ↑ Kirkman, L. Katherine. Unpublished database of seed dispersal mode of plants found in Coastal Plain longleaf pine-grasslands of the Jones Ecological Research Center, Georgia.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 [[2]] Accessed: February 13, 2016
- ↑ Lang, N. L. 2011. Soil seed bank dynamics of southern Lake Wales Ridge sandhill communities. Archbold Biological Station, Venus, Florida,15 pg.
- ↑ Lang, N. L. 2011. Soil seed bank dynamics of southern Lake Wales Ridge sandhill communities. Archbold Biological Station, Venus, Florida,15 pg.
- ↑ Deyrup, M.A. and N.D. 2015. Database of observations of Hymenoptera visitations to flowers of plants on Archbold Biological Station, Florida, USA.
- ↑ Myers, G. T. and T. A. Vaughan (1964). "Food Habits of the Plains Pocket Gopher in Eastern Colorado." Journal of Mammalogy 45(4): 588-598.
- ↑ Jezorek, H. and P. Stiling (2012). "LACK OF ASSOCIATIONAL EFFECTS BETWEEN TWO HOSTS OF AN INVASIVE HERBIVORE: OPUNTIA SPP. AND CACTOBLASTIS CACTORUM (LEPIDOPTERA: PYRALIDAE)." The Florida Entomologist 95(4): 1048-1057.
- ↑ [[3]]Illinois Wildflowers. Accessed: February 15, 2016
