Introductory
SPECIES: Opuntia humifusa | Eastern Prickly-Pear 



ABBREVIATION : 
OPUHUM

SYNONYMS : 
   Opuntia compressa (Salisb.) Macbr.
   Opuntia mesacantha Raf.


SCS PLANT CODE : 
   OPHU


COMMON NAMES : 
   eastern prickly-pear cactus


TAXONOMY : 
The currently accepted scientific name of eastern prickly-pear cactus is Opuntia
humifusa (Raf.) Raf. [2,13].  Recognized varieties are as follows:

     O. h. var. ammophilia (Small) L. Benson [2,16]
     O. h. var. austrina (Small) Dress [16,26]
     O. h. var. fusco-atra (Eng.) Winiger [19]
     O. h. var. humifusa [2,16]

Eastern prickly-pear cactus hybridizes with O. pusilla, O. vulgaris, O. stricta
var. stritca, and O. stritca var. dillenii [2].


LIFE FORM : 
Cactus

FEDERAL LEGAL STATUS : 
No special status

OTHER STATUS : 
Eastern prickly-pear cactus is listed as endangered in Ontario [31].


COMPILED BY AND DATE : 
Janet L. Howard, June 1992


LAST REVISED BY AND DATE : 
NO-ENTRY


AUTHORSHIP AND CITATION : 
Howard, Janet L. Opuntia humifusa. In: Remainder of Citation

Related categories for Species: Opuntia humifusa | Eastern Prickly-Pear