Opuntia stricta
Common Prickly Pear at Hackett, ACT
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| Opuntia stricta | MichaelMulvaney | 13 May 2016 | |
| Opuntia stricta | waltraud | 12 May 2016 |
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User's notes
One plant >1m, 2 plants <0.3m.
I've found Opuntia growing east of Mackenzie Street, Kellaway St (Hackett) and Duffy St (Ainslie), some close to backyards some in more remote sites. In one case clearly the result of dumping, in one other case clearly the result of planting (yes!). However these reported specimen as well as several others were most likely not planted or dumped given the location. Would anyone know how Opuntia is spread by means other than dumping/planting? BTW I dug out all and deposited in my rubbish bin.
4 comments
13 May 2016
Waltraud, Opuntia is spread by fruit or fragments and I find it in areas remote from houses or obvious dump spots, as well as near houses. There is Opuntia ficus indica spreading from a property backing on to Scrivebner Hill and being planted there. Some plants dug out and not collected have taken root again. Opuntia stricta is in unlikely areas of Isaacs Ridge. Opuntia puberula is a.so on Isaacs Ridge but well away from tracks so it could have started from fruit or seed..
14 May 2016
In Africa Opuntia is dispersed by baboons and elephants - which are strangely missing from Mt Majura, but there are also records of it being dispersed by cows, goats, wild boars, foxes and birds - not sure what birds eat fruit but I suspect the Currawong,
Location information
- Coordinates 149.170833-35.255000
- Altitude 678.0m
- Places Hackett, ACT
Sighting information
- 3 Abundance
- 12 May 2016 05:28 PM Recorded on
- waltraud Recorded by
Collections
Species information
- Opuntia stricta Scientific name
- Common Prickly Pear Common name
- Not Sensitive
- Exotic
- Medium weed or pest
- Up to 790.6m Recorded at altitude
- External link More information
Seasonal activity
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In flower
JFMAMJJASOND
Record quality
Quality score
4 / 7
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- Verified by an expert moderator
- GPS evidence of location
- Description
- More than one media file
- Nearby sighting(s) of same species
- Additional attributes