Opuntia mesacantha Rafinesque ssp. lata (Small) Majure. Common name: Prickly-pear. Phenology: (Mid Mar-) Apr-May (-Jun); Jul-Feb. Habitat: Coastal dunes and scrub, sandhills, borders of pine flatwoods, scrub, coastal islands (FL, GA, SC), riverine sands. Distribution: Ssp. lata is restricted to the outer Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plains and the FL peninsula: NC south to s. FL, west to s. MS.
Origin/Endemic status: Endemic
Taxonomy Comments: A diploid taxon (2n = 22).
Other Comments: This taxon co-occurs with O. austrina in parts of the FL peninsula.
Synonymy ⓘ: = K4, Majure et al (2017); < Opuntia compressa (Salisb.) J.F.Macbr. — RAB; < Opuntia compressa (Salisb.) J.F.Macbr. var. compressa — G; > Opuntia eburnispina Small; < Opuntia humifusa (Raf.) Raf. — C, F, Fl5, Pa, W, WH3; < Opuntia humifusa (Raf.) Raf. var. humifusa — FNA4, Va, Benson (1982), Doyle (1990); > Opuntia impedata Small — Britton & Rose (1937); > Opuntia impedita Small — S; > Opuntia lata Small > Opuntia macrarthra Gibbes. Basionym: Opuntia lata Small 1919
Links to other floras: < Opuntia humifusa var. humifusa - FNA4
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Heliophily ⓘ: 8
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© Aidan Campos source | Original Image ⭷
© Jay Horn source | Original Image ⭷
© Jay Horn source | Original Image ⭷
© Alan Cressler: Opuntia mesacantha ssp. lata, Griffin Ridge Wildlife Management Area, Long County, Georgia 1 by Alan Cressler source | Original Image ⭷
© Alan M. Cressler | Original Image ⭷
© Aidan Campos source | Original Image ⭷
© Aidan Campos source | Original Image ⭷
© Jay Horn source | Original Image ⭷
© Jay Horn source | Original Image ⭷
© Aidan Campos source | Original Image ⭷
© Aidan Campos source | Original Image ⭷Feedback
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Horticultural Information
No horticultural data found for this taxon.