Opuntia monacantha (tree, shrub, succulent)

Ecology Distribution Management Info Impact Info References and Links Contacts

Interim profile, incomplete information          General Impact The Global Compendium of Weeds (2007) describes Opuntia monacantha as an "agricultural weed", "cultivation escape", "environmental weed" and "noxious weed".          Location Specific Impacts: Ascension Is. (Saint Helena)   Interaction with other invasive species: Mice were several times seen climbing on Opuntia plants, where one was seen to graze the anthers from several flowers. Threat to endangered species: Endemic vascular flora of Ascension Island are threatened by an unidentified Opuntia sp. Specifically, Opuntia occurs at at least two locations where endemic species occur. These endemics are the 'Near Threatened (NT)' Asplenium ascensionis - (in IUCN Red List of Threatened Species). And the 'Critically Endangered (CR)' Pteris adscensionis - (in IUCN Red List of Threatened Species), both of which require active conservation measures to ensure their survival (Gray Pelembe & Stroud 2005).