Difference between revisions of "Opuntia humifusa"

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Common names: Devil's-tongue; Eastern prickly pear
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Common names: Devil's-tongue; Eastern prickly pear<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>
 
==Taxonomic notes==
 
==Taxonomic notes==
 
Synonyms: ''Opuntia humifusa'' (Rafinesque) Rafinesque var. ''humifusa''; ''O. compressa'' (Salisbury) J.F. Macbride var. ''compressa''; ''O. compressa''; ''O. impedita'' Small; ''O. macrarthra'' Gibbes; ''O. opuntia'' (Linnaeus) Karten; ''O. calcicola'' Wherry; ''O. rafinesquei'' Engelmann
 
Synonyms: ''Opuntia humifusa'' (Rafinesque) Rafinesque var. ''humifusa''; ''O. compressa'' (Salisbury) J.F. Macbride var. ''compressa''; ''O. compressa''; ''O. impedita'' Small; ''O. macrarthra'' Gibbes; ''O. opuntia'' (Linnaeus) Karten; ''O. calcicola'' Wherry; ''O. rafinesquei'' Engelmann
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<!-- Basic life history facts such as annual/perrenial, monoecious/dioecious, root morphology, seed type, etc. -->
 
<!-- Basic life history facts such as annual/perrenial, monoecious/dioecious, root morphology, seed type, etc. -->
 
A description of ''Opuntia humifusa'' is provided in [http://efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=242415184 The Flora of North America].
 
A description of ''Opuntia humifusa'' is provided in [http://efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=242415184 The Flora of North America].
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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.<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>
  
 
==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 found in southern Canada as well as the eastern United States. <ref name=gold> Goldstein, G. and P. S. Nobel (1994). "Water Relations and Low-Temperature Acclimation for Cactus Species Varying in Freezing Tolerance." Plant Physiology 104(2): 675-681.</ref>
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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==
 
===Habitat=== <!--Natural communities, human disturbed habitats, topography, hydrology, soils, light, fire regime requirements for removal of competition, etc.-->
 
===Habitat=== <!--Natural communities, human disturbed habitats, topography, hydrology, soils, light, fire regime requirements for removal of competition, etc.-->
 
''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.''<ref name="FSU Herbarium">Florida State University Robert K. Godfrey Herbarium database. URL: [http://herbarium.bio.fsu.edu 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.</ref>
 
''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.''<ref name="FSU Herbarium">Florida State University Robert K. Godfrey Herbarium database. URL: [http://herbarium.bio.fsu.edu 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.</ref>
In Central Florida ''O. humifusa'' exhibits no response to soil disturbance by some clearcutting. bracke 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>
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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>
  
 
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>
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''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/>
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===Seed bank and germination===
 
===Seed bank and germination===
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 on 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>
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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 recruite 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>
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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===

Revision as of 13:10, 29 September 2020

Opuntia humifusa
Opun humi.jpg
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.
Opun humi dist.jpg
Natural range of Opuntia humifusa from USDA NRCS Plants Database.

Common names: Devil's-tongue; Eastern prickly pear[1]

Taxonomic notes

Synonyms: Opuntia humifusa (Rafinesque) Rafinesque var. humifusa; O. compressa (Salisbury) J.F. Macbride var. compressa; O. compressa; O. impedita Small; O. macrarthra Gibbes; O. opuntia (Linnaeus) Karten; O. calcicola Wherry; O. rafinesquei Engelmann

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

References and notes

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 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. 2.0 2.1 [[1]] Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. Accessed: February 12, 2016
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. Hebb, E.A. (1971). Site Preparation Decreases Game Food Plants in Florida Sandhills. The Journal of Wildlife Management 35(1):155-162.
  6. 6.0 6.1 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named gold
  7. 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
  8. 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. 9.0 9.1 [[2]] Accessed: February 13, 2016
  10. Lang, N. L. 2011. Soil seed bank dynamics of southern Lake Wales Ridge sandhill communities. Archbold Biological Station, Venus, Florida,15 pg.
  11. Lang, N. L. 2011. Soil seed bank dynamics of southern Lake Wales Ridge sandhill communities. Archbold Biological Station, Venus, Florida,15 pg.
  12. Deyrup, M.A. and N.D. 2015. Database of observations of Hymenoptera visitations to flowers of plants on Archbold Biological Station, Florida, USA.
  13. 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.
  14. 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.
  15. [[3]]Illinois Wildflowers. Accessed: February 15, 2016