Family: Cactaceae

A tree-like cactus that spreads by seed and vegetative fragments. Considered one of the tallest members of the cactus family, Brasiliopuntia brasiliensis reaches heights up to 66 feet. As the scientific name suggests, B. brasiliensis is native to Brazil. Armed with visible spine clusters, the cylindrical trunk tapers with height. Leaf-like pads adorn Brasiliopuntia brasiliensis, much thinner and more flexible than typical Opuntia species, giving the cactus a tree-like construction. Fruit, flowers, and hair-thin thorns are produced on leaf pad edges and pad centers. Flowers are pale yellow to bright yellow/orange. Fruiting occurs multiple times a year, with one black seed per fruit. Leaf pads fall from the tree when they are heavy with fruit, resulting in vegetative growth of new individuals from the ground. The plant is shade tolerant for much of its life. A slow grower at a young age in the understory grows faster as it peeks out above the canopy and reaches full sun.

It was found naturalizing in the understory of a dry forest dominated by haole koa and Christmas berry in the Ka’u area of Hawaiʻi Island and Oceanview near its original cultivation point. Considered by some as ‘the most dangerous of all cacti,’ BIISC staff experienced the painful reality of persistent hair-like thorns in their hands after handling the cactus. Pressed and dried samples grew in the herbarium cabinet, proving its exceptional ability to thrive in the shade. This tropical cactus is challenging to eradicate, stem injections with 100% Garlon 4, had with some success.

Description and Dispersal:

• Tall arboreal cactus
  
• Thin leaf-like pads
  
• Pale yellow to bright orange flowers
  
• Small globular fruit, pale yellow in color
  
• Visible and invisible thorns on woody trunk and leaf
  
• Reproduces by vegetative fragments
  
• Seeds are bird dispersed

High Risk Traits:

• Able to grow in tropical climates
  
• Naturalized in Florida, and Puerto Rico. Naturalizing on Hawaii Island
  
• Spiny
  
• Spines may deter browsing
  
• Younger plants Shade-tolerant, Older plants thrive in full sun
  
• Tolerates many soil types
  
• Reproduces by seeds and vegetatively by fallen pads
  
• Seeds dispersed by fruit-eating animals and intentionally by people
  
• Limited ecological information outside native range may reduce accuracy of risk prediction

Low Risk Traits:

• Non-toxic
  
• Ornamental uses and edible fruit
  
• Seeds relatively large, which may limit accidental dispersal
  
• Fruit may ripen after falling to ground, which could limit bird dispersal