Family: Cactaceae
High Risk Traits:
- Broad native distribution and elevation range exceeds 1000 m, demonstrating environmental versatility
- Grows in arid tropical to subtropical climates
- Naturalizing in South Africa and Spain
- A disturbance-adapted cactus able to grow, suggesting a potential to spread into anthropogenic disturbed habitats
- A potential agricultural and environmental weed in South Africa
- Other Opuntia species are invasive weeds
- Armed with numerous spines
- Forms thickets within native range
- Reproduces by seeds and vegetatively within native range
- Spines are barbed, and joints easily become attached to passing animals or objects, facilitating dispersal
- Fruits and seeds, when produced, presumably dispersed by frugivorous birds or other vertebrates
- Limited biological and ecological information reduces accuracy of risk prediction
Low Risk Traits:
- May be restricted to full sun, or high light environments
- Fruit and seed production may be minimal
- Herbicides may be able to provide effective control, as they have on other Opuntia species
