Opuntia mesacantha Rafinesque ssp. lata (Small) Majure. Prickly-pear. Phen: (Mid Mar-) Apr-May (-Jun); Jul-Feb. Hab: Coastal dunes and scrub, sandhills, borders of pine flatwoods, scrub, coastal islands (FL, GA, SC), riverine sands. Dist: 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, K3, Pa, W, WH3; < Opuntia humifusa (Raf.) Raf. var. humifusa – FNA4, K1, Va, Benson (1982), Doyle (1990); > Opuntia impedata Small – Britton & Rose (1937); > Opuntia impedita Small – S; > Opuntia lata Small; > Opuntia macrarthra

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Heliophily: 8