Opuntia aurantiaca

Opuntia aurantiaca
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Core eudicots
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Cactaceae
Genus: Opuntia
Species: O. aurantiaca
Binomial name
Opuntia aurantiaca
Lindl.[1]

Opuntia aurantiaca, commonly known as tiger-pear, jointed cactus or jointed prickly-pear, is a species of cactus from South America.[1] The species occurs naturally in Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay and is considered an invasive species in Africa and Australia.[1]

It was declared a Weed of National Significance by the Australian Weeds Committee in April 2012, and was reported by the Committee to be the most troublesome of all cactus species in New South Wales and the worst Opuntia species in Queensland. It is currently controlled biologically in Australia using the cochineal insect Dactylopius austrinus, and to a lesser extent by the larvae of two moths, Cactoblastis cactorum and Tucumania tapiacola.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Opuntia aurantiaca (Haw.) Haw.". Germplasm Resources Information Network. United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 9 April 2011.
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