Table of Contents
Overview
Distribution
Range
Opuntia fragilis occurs from the Canadian provinces of Alberta and Ontario southward to the southwestern USA states. This species is the taxon of the farthest north occurrence of any member of the cactaceae family, having observations recorded as far north as 58 degrees northern latitude. Northern occurrences include the Peace River area of British Columbia eastward to western Manitoba and Ontario. USA occurrences include the state of Washington eastward to Minnesota and Wisconsin, and south to New Mexico, Arizona and California.
- C.Michael Hogan. 2011. Cactus. Topic ed. Arthur Dawson. Ed.-in-chief Cutler J.Cleveland. Encyclopedia of Earth. National Council for Science and the Environment. Washington DC http://www.eoearth.org/article/Cactus?topic=49480
- Flora of North America. Opuntia fragilis (Nuttall) Haworth
© C.Michael Hogan
Supplier: C. Michael Hogan
Trusted
More info for the term: cactus
Brittle pricklypear is widely distributed across North America. It occurs from
Ontario south to Texas and west to British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, and
California. Brittle pricklypear is rare in Ontario, Iowa, Illinois, Michigan,
Washington, and Wisconsin [39,77], and extremely rare
or possibly extirpated in California [17,39].
Brittle pricklypear is found further north than any other cactus species in the
world, growing in northern Alberta only 4o south of the Arctic Circle [9]. The Flora of North America provides a distribution map of brittle pricklypear. Plants database
provides state distributional maps of its varieties.
Varieties: Pygmy pricklypear occurs throughout the general range of brittle
pricklypear. Little pricklypear occurs in Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona,
and Utah [39].
Brittle pricklypear is widely distributed across North America. It occurs from
Ontario south to Texas and west to British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, and
California. Brittle pricklypear is rare in Ontario, Iowa, Illinois, Michigan,
Washington, and Wisconsin [39,77], and extremely rare
or possibly extirpated in California [17,39].
Brittle pricklypear is found further north than any other cactus species in the
world, growing in northern Alberta only 4o south of the Arctic Circle [9]. The Flora of North America provides a distribution map of brittle pricklypear. Plants database
provides state distributional maps of its varieties.
Varieties: Pygmy pricklypear occurs throughout the general range of brittle
pricklypear. Little pricklypear occurs in Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona,
and Utah [39].
- 9. Benson, Lyman. 1982. The cacti of the United States and Canada. Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press. 1044 p. [1513]
- 17. CalFlora. 2005. The CalFlora Database: Information on California plants for education, research and conservation, [Online]. Berkeley, CA: CalFlora (Producer). Available: http://www.calflora.org/ [2005, October 28]. [42048]
- 39. Kartesz, John T.; Meacham, Christopher A. 1999. Synthesis of the North American flora (Windows Version 1.0), [CD-ROM]. Available: North Carolina Botanical Garden. In cooperation with the Nature Conservancy, Natural Resources Conservation Service, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service [2001, January 16]. [36715]
- 77. Washington Natural Heritage Program. 2005. Opuntia fragilis--brittle prickly-pear, [Online]. In: Field guide to selected rare plants of Washington. Washington State Department of Natural Resources (Producer). Available: http://www.dna.wa.gov/nhp/refdesk/fguide/pdf/opufra.pdf. [54932]
Trusted
States or Provinces
(key to state/province abbreviations)
UNITED STATES
CANADA
UNITED STATES
| AZ | CA | CO | ID | IL | IA | KS | MI | MN | MT |
| NE | NV | NM | ND | OK | OR | SD | TX | UT | WA |
| WI | WY |
CANADA
| AB | BC | MB | ON | SK |
Trusted
Regional Distribution in the Western United States
More info on this topic.
This species can be found in the following regions of the western United States (according to the Bureau of Land Management classification of Physiographic Regions of the western United States):
BLM PHYSIOGRAPHIC REGIONS [11]:
6 Upper Basin and Range
7 Lower Basin and Range
8 Northern Rocky Mountains
9 Middle Rocky Mountains
10 Wyoming Basin
11 Southern Rocky Mountains
12 Colorado Plateau
13 Rocky Mountain Piedmont
14 Great Plains
15 Black Hills Uplift
16 Upper Missouri Basin and Broken Lands
This species can be found in the following regions of the western United States (according to the Bureau of Land Management classification of Physiographic Regions of the western United States):
BLM PHYSIOGRAPHIC REGIONS [11]:
6 Upper Basin and Range
7 Lower Basin and Range
8 Northern Rocky Mountains
9 Middle Rocky Mountains
10 Wyoming Basin
11 Southern Rocky Mountains
12 Colorado Plateau
13 Rocky Mountain Piedmont
14 Great Plains
15 Black Hills Uplift
16 Upper Missouri Basin and Broken Lands
- 11. Bernard, Stephen R.; Brown, Kenneth F. 1977. Distribution of mammals, reptiles, and amphibians by BLM physiographic regions and A.W. Kuchler's associations for the eleven western states. Tech. Note 301. Denver, CO: U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management. 169 p. [434]
Trusted
Localities documented in Tropicos sources
Opuntia brachyarthra Engelm. & J.M. Bigelow:
Mexico (Mesoamerica)
Note: This information is based on publications available through Tropicos and may not represent the entire distribution. Tropicos does not categorize distributions as native or non-native.
Mexico (Mesoamerica)
Note: This information is based on publications available through Tropicos and may not represent the entire distribution. Tropicos does not categorize distributions as native or non-native.
-
SPECIMEN BASED RECORD. Published protolog data.
http://www.tropicos.org/Reference/9990002
© Missouri Botanical Garden, 4344 Shaw Boulevard, St. Louis, MO 63110 USA
Source:
Missouri Botanical Garden
Trusted
Localities documented in Tropicos sources
Opuntia fragilis (Nutt.) Haw.:
Canada (North America)
United States (North America)
Note: This information is based on publications available through Tropicos and may not represent the entire distribution. Tropicos does not categorize distributions as native or non-native.
Canada (North America)
United States (North America)
Note: This information is based on publications available through Tropicos and may not represent the entire distribution. Tropicos does not categorize distributions as native or non-native.
-
Anonymous. 1986. List-Based Rec., Soil Conserv. Serv., U.S.D.A. Database of the U.S.D.A., Beltsville.
http://www.tropicos.org/Reference/1103
-
Voss, E. G. 1985. Michigan Flora. Part II Dicots (Saururaceae-Cornaceae). Bull. Cranbrook Inst. Sci. 59. xix + 724.
http://www.tropicos.org/Reference/1700
-
Gleason, H. A. 1968. The Choripetalous Dicotyledoneae. vol. 2. 655 pp. In H. A. Gleason Ill. Fl. N. U.S. (ed. 3). New York Botanical Garden, New York.
http://www.tropicos.org/Reference/1704
-
Correll, D. S. & M. C. Johnston. 1970. Man. Vasc. Pl. Texas i–xv, 1–1881. The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson.
http://www.tropicos.org/Reference/1493
-
Great Plains Flora Association. 1986. Fl. Great Plains i–vii, 1–1392. University Press of Kansas, Lawrence.
http://www.tropicos.org/Reference/637
-
Fernald, M. 1950. Manual (ed. 8) i–lxiv, 1–1632. American Book Co., New York.
http://www.tropicos.org/Reference/1327
-
Munz, P. A. & D. D. Keck. 1959. Cal. Fl. 1–1681. University of California Press, Berkeley.
http://www.tropicos.org/Reference/1717
© Missouri Botanical Garden, 4344 Shaw Boulevard, St. Louis, MO 63110 USA
Source:
Missouri Botanical Garden
Trusted
Alta., B.C., Man., Ont., Sask.; Ariz., Calif., Colo., Idaho, Ill., Iowa, Kans., Mich. , Minn., Mont., Nebr., N.Mex., N.Dak., Okla., Oreg., S.Dak., Tex., Utah, Wash., Wis., Wyo.
© Missouri Botanical Garden, 4344 Shaw Boulevard, St. Louis, MO, 63110 USA
Source:
Missouri Botanical Garden
Trusted
Global Range: British Columbia, to W. Manitoba; near Kaladar, Ontario; Washington, Michigan, Illinois, California, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Oregon, Idaho, Iowa, Montana, Wyoming, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Nebraska, Dakotas.
© NatureServe
Source:
NatureServe
Trusted
National Distribution
Canada
Origin: Unknown/Undetermined
Regularity: Regularly occurring
Currently: Unknown/Undetermined
Confidence: Confident
United States
Origin: Native
Regularity: Regularly occurring
Currently: Present
Confidence: Confident
Type of Residency: Year-round
© NatureServe
Source:
NatureServe
Trusted
Physical Description
Morphology
Description
More info for the term: cactus
This description provides characteristics that may be relevant to fire ecology,
and is not meant for identification. Several florae provide keys for identifying
brittle pricklypear [9,32,45,50,80].
Brittle pricklypear is a perennial
native mat- or clump-forming cactus, usually 2 to 4 inches (5-10 cm) tall. The
clumps or mats often exceed 12 inches (30 cm) in diameter. The succulent stem
segments, or pads, are 0.5 to 5 inches (1.2-2.5 cm) wide and range in length
from 0.8 to 2 inches (2-5 cm) for pygmy pricklypear and 2
to 2.8 inches (5-7cm) for little pricklypear. Aereoles
on the pads give rise to 2 to 7 barbed spines that are 0.5 to 0.8 inch (1.2-2
cm) long for pygmy pricklypear and 0.8 to 1.2 inches (2-3) cm long for little
pricklypear. Flowers are solitary, 1.2 to 2 inches (3-5 cm) long and broad.
The fruit is a pear-shaped berry, 0.6 to 0.8 inch (1.5-2 cm) long, and is
usually spiny. The seeds are glabrous, flattened, oblong to subcircular,
and 0.2 inch (5 mm) in diameter. The root system is shallow and fibrous
[9,21,50,68].
Brittle pricklypear is extremely tolerant of drought. It avoids drought damage
by accumulating water in storage cells that contain mucilaginous materials with
a strong water-retaining capacity [37].
This description provides characteristics that may be relevant to fire ecology,
and is not meant for identification. Several florae provide keys for identifying
brittle pricklypear [9,32,45,50,80].
Brittle pricklypear is a perennial
native mat- or clump-forming cactus, usually 2 to 4 inches (5-10 cm) tall. The
clumps or mats often exceed 12 inches (30 cm) in diameter. The succulent stem
segments, or pads, are 0.5 to 5 inches (1.2-2.5 cm) wide and range in length
from 0.8 to 2 inches (2-5 cm) for pygmy pricklypear and 2
to 2.8 inches (5-7cm) for little pricklypear. Aereoles
on the pads give rise to 2 to 7 barbed spines that are 0.5 to 0.8 inch (1.2-2
cm) long for pygmy pricklypear and 0.8 to 1.2 inches (2-3) cm long for little
pricklypear. Flowers are solitary, 1.2 to 2 inches (3-5 cm) long and broad.
The fruit is a pear-shaped berry, 0.6 to 0.8 inch (1.5-2 cm) long, and is
usually spiny. The seeds are glabrous, flattened, oblong to subcircular,
and 0.2 inch (5 mm) in diameter. The root system is shallow and fibrous
[9,21,50,68].
Brittle pricklypear is extremely tolerant of drought. It avoids drought damage
by accumulating water in storage cells that contain mucilaginous materials with
a strong water-retaining capacity [37].
- 9. Benson, Lyman. 1982. The cacti of the United States and Canada. Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press. 1044 p. [1513]
- 32. Hitchcock, C. Leo; Cronquist, Arthur. 1973. Flora of the Pacific Northwest. Seattle, WA: University of Washington Press. 730 p. [1168]
- 37. Ishikawa, Masaya; Gusta, Lawrence V. 1996. Freezing and heat tolerance of Opuntia cacti native to the Canadian prairie provinces. Canadian Journal of Botany. 74(12): 1890-1895. [27689]
- 45. Lackschewitz, Klaus. 1991. Vascular plants of west-central Montana--identification guidebook. Gen. Tech. Rep. INT-227. Ogden, UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Intermountain Research Station. 648 p. [13798]
- 50. Martin, William C.; Hutchins, Charles R. 1981. A flora of New Mexico. Volume 2. Germany: J. Cramer. 2589 p. [37176]
- 68. Stubbendieck, James; Coffin, Mitchell J.; Landholt, L. M. 2003. Weeds of the Great Plains. 3rd ed. Lincoln, NE: Nebraska Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Plant Industry. 605 p. In cooperation with: University of Nebraska - Lincoln. [50776]
- 80. Welsh, Stanley L.; Atwood, N. Duane; Goodrich, Sherel; Higgins, Larry C., eds. 1987. A Utah flora. The Great Basin Naturalist Memoir No. 9. Provo, UT: Brigham Young University. 894 p. [2944]
- 21. Flora of North America Association. 2004. Flora of North America: The flora. [Online]. Flora of North America Association (Producer). Available: http://www.fna.org/FNA. [36990]
Trusted
Description
Shrubs, low, forming mats, 2-10 cm. Stem segments easily detached when terminal, dark green, subspheric to subcylindric, to flattened and elliptic obovate, (1.5-)2-5.5 × (1-)1.5-3 cm, low tuberculate (pronounced when dried), glabrous; areoles 3-5 per diagonal row across midstem segment, oval, 3 × 2.5 mm; wool white. Spines 3-8 per areole, in most areoles spreading, gray with brown tips, straight, ± acicular, terete, the longest 8-24 mm; depressed spines at base of areoles 0-3, 1-3 mm. Glochids in crescent at adaxial margin of areole, tan to brown, inconspicuous, to 3 mm. Flowers: inner tepals yellow, sometimes basally red, 20-26 mm; filaments white or red; anthers yellow; style white; stigma lobes green. Fruits tan, 10-30 × 8-15 mm, dry, glabrous; areoles 12-22, distal areoles bearing 1-6 short spines. Seeds tan to gray, flattened, warped, oblong to subcircular, 5-6 mm diam.; girdle protruding 1-1.5 mm. 2n = 66.
© Missouri Botanical Garden, 4344 Shaw Boulevard, St. Louis, MO, 63110 USA
Source:
Missouri Botanical Garden
Trusted
Diagnostic Description
Synonym
Cactus fragilis Nuttall, Gen. N. Amer. Pl. 1: 296. 1818; Opuntia brachyarthra Engelmann & J. M. Bigelow; O. fragilis var. brachyarthra (Engelmann & J. M. Bigelow) J. M. Coulter
© Missouri Botanical Garden, 4344 Shaw Boulevard, St. Louis, MO, 63110 USA
Source:
Missouri Botanical Garden
Trusted
Ecology
Habitat
Habitat characteristics
More info for the terms: cacti, cactus, xeric
Brittle pricklypear can flourish on a great range of sites. It is found at elevations ranging from sea level to
11,089 feet (3,380 m), will grow well on various types of soils under a wide
range of moisture regimes, and can survive extremes of both hot and cold
temperatures [9,48,80].
Brittle pricklypear is perhaps the most cold tolerant of all the cacti
species, being able to survive on sites where the minimum winter temperatures
can drop below -58 oF (-50 oC). The cactus avoids freeze
damage by rapidly reducing the water content in cells during cold acclimation.
The short stature of the plants allows brittle pricklypear to take advantage of
the insulating effects of snow and the thermal environment at the soil surface.
Brittle pricklypear also is able to withstand temperatures in excess of 131 oF
(55 oC) [37,48].
Brittle pricklypear is most commonly found on rocky, sandy or gravely soils,
but can also flourish on silty, loamy, or clayey soils. It is tolerant of
salt-affected, alkaline, and solodized (dealkalized) soils [9,80,81].
The moisture regimes at which brittle pricklypear can be found are quite
varied. For example, in British Columbia, brittle pricklypear occurs on
sites ranging from very xeric to hygric [42].
The following table lists reported elevational ranges for brittle
pricklypear:
| State or province | Elevation |
| AZ | 6,500 to 7,500 feet (1,981-2,286 m) [40] |
| CO | 4,500 to 7,500 feet (1,372-2,286 m) [28] |
| NM | 4,500 to 8,000 feet (1,372-2,438 m) [50] |
| UT | 4,495 to 8,415 feet (1,370-2,565 m) [80] |
| WA | 14 to 4,500 feet (4-1,372 m) [77] |
| BC | 738 to 11,089 feet (225-3,380) [42] |
- 9. Benson, Lyman. 1982. The cacti of the United States and Canada. Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press. 1044 p. [1513]
- 28. Harrington, H. D. 1964. Manual of the plants of Colorado. 2d ed. Chicago: The Swallow Press, Inc. 666 p. [6851]
- 37. Ishikawa, Masaya; Gusta, Lawrence V. 1996. Freezing and heat tolerance of Opuntia cacti native to the Canadian prairie provinces. Canadian Journal of Botany. 74(12): 1890-1895. [27689]
- 40. Kearney, Thomas H.; Peebles, Robert H.; Howell, John Thomas; McClintock, Elizabeth. 1960. Arizona flora. 2d ed. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press. 1085 p. [6563]
- 48. Loik, Michael E.; Nobel, Park S. 1993. Freezing tolerance and water relations of Opuntia fragilis from Canada and the United States. Ecology. 74(6): 1722-1732. [22587]
- 50. Martin, William C.; Hutchins, Charles R. 1981. A flora of New Mexico. Volume 2. Germany: J. Cramer. 2589 p. [37176]
- 80. Welsh, Stanley L.; Atwood, N. Duane; Goodrich, Sherel; Higgins, Larry C., eds. 1987. A Utah flora. The Great Basin Naturalist Memoir No. 9. Provo, UT: Brigham Young University. 894 p. [2944]
- 42. Klinkenberg, Brian, ed. 2005. E-Flora BC: Electronic atlas of the plants of British Columbia, [Online]. Vancouver, BC: University of British Columbia, Department of Geography, Lab for Advanced Spatial Analysis (Producer). Available: www.eflora.bc.ca [2005, October 28]. [54933]
- 77. Washington Natural Heritage Program. 2005. Opuntia fragilis--brittle prickly-pear, [Online]. In: Field guide to selected rare plants of Washington. Washington State Department of Natural Resources (Producer). Available: http://www.dna.wa.gov/nhp/refdesk/fguide/pdf/opufra.pdf. [54932]
- 81. Whitman, W. C. 1979. Analysis of grassland vegetation on selected key areas in southwestern North Dakota. REAP [Regional Environmental Assessment Program] Contract No. 7-01-2. Fargo, ND: North Dakota State University, Department of Botany. 199 p. [3321]
Trusted
Key Plant Community Associations
More info for the term: shrub
Brittle pricklypear occurs in a variety of desert, grassland, prairie, and
woodland communities. It occurs as a community associate and not a dominant
species [9]. Brief descriptions of the common dominants and associates
are presented below. More detailed descriptions of plant communities where brittle
pricklypear occurs are available in the publications listed at the end of this
section.
Brittle pricklypear is commonly found in upland grasslands dominated
by various bunchgrasses including blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis),
buffalo grass (Buchloe dactyloides), Sandberg bluegrass (Poa
secunda), bluebunch wheatgrass (Pseudoroegneria spicata), western wheatgrass (Pascopyrum smithii),
and green needlegrass (Nassella viridula) [31,46,55,72,81].
In tallgrass prairies dominated by big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii)
and little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium), brittle pricklypear
occurs but is an uncommon associate [30,81].
Brittle pricklypear is a common associate in a wide variety of habitat
types dominated by big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata) and silver
sagebrush (A. cana). It also occurs as an associate in various
shrub communities including those dominated by greasewood (Sarcobatus
vermiculatus), shadscale saltbush (Atriplex confertifolia), and
blackbrush (Coleogyne ramosissima) [14,31,49,72].
In the Sandhills region of Colorado and Nebraska, brittle pricklypear is commonly
found in communities dominated by sand sagebrush (Artemisia
filifolia), prairie sandreed (Calamovilfa longifolia), sand
bluestem (Andropogon gerardii var. paucipilus), hairy grama (Bouteloua
hirsuta), and sandhill muhly (Muhlenbergia pungens) [58,62].
Brittle pricklypear occurs in various woodland communities, notably dry ponderosa pine
(Pinus ponderosa) communities,
dry ponderosa pine-Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) habitat types, pinyon-juniper (P.
edulis-Juniperus spp.) woodlands and Gambel oak (Quercus
gambelii) thickets [1,51,77,79,80].
Publications that discuss plant communities in which brittle pricklypear
occurs are listed below. The list is neither restrictive nor all
inclusive.
AZ [13,49]
CA [13]
CO [13,51,58]
ID [18]
MT [1,14,55]
ND [31]
NE [62]
NM [13]
NV [13]
ON [72]
SD [30,81]
SK [33]
TX [13]
UT [13,27]
- 1. Arno, Stephen F. 1979. Forest regions of Montana. Res. Pap. INT-218. Ogden, UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Intermountain Forest and Range Experiment Station. 39 p. [340]
- 9. Benson, Lyman. 1982. The cacti of the United States and Canada. Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press. 1044 p. [1513]
- 13. Brown, David E. 1982. Great Basin conifer woodland. In: Brown, David E., ed. Biotic communities of the American Southwest--United States and Mexico. Desert Plants. 4(1-4): 52-57. [535]
- 14. Brown, Ray W. 1971. Distribution of plant communities in southeastern Montana badlands. The American Midland Naturalist. 85(2): 458-477. [546]
- 27. Harper, Kimball T. 1959. Vegetational changes in a shadscale-winterfat plant association during twenty-three years of controlled grazing. Provo, UT: Brigham Young University. 68 p. Thesis. [45366]
- 30. Higgins, Jeremy J.; Larson, Gary E.; Higgins, Kenneth F. 2001. Floristic comparisons of tallgrass prairie remnants managed by different land stewardships in eastern South Dakota. In: Bernstein, Neil P.; Ostrander, Laura J., eds. Seeds for the future; roots of the past: Proceedings of the 17th North American prairie conference; 2000 July 16-20; Mason City, IA. Mason City, IA: North Iowa Area Community College: 21-31. [46489]
- 31. Hirsch, Kathie Jean. 1985. Habitat classification of grasslands and shrublands of southwestern North Dakota. Fargo, ND: North Dakota State University. 281 p. Dissertation. [40326]
- 33. Hulett, G. K.; Coupland, R. T.; Dix, R. L. 1966. The vegetation of dune sand areas within the grassland region of Saskatchewan. Canadian Journal of Botany. 44: 1307-1331. [43303]
- 46. Lang, Robert L.; Barnes, Oscar K.; Rauzi, Frank. 1956. Shortgrass range: grazing effects on vegetation and on sheep gains. Bull. 343. Laramie, WY: Wyoming Agricultural Experiment Station. 32 p. [12188]
- 49. Lowe, Charles H. 1964. Arizona's natural environment: Landscapes and habitats. Tucson, AZ: The University of Arizona Press. 136 p. [20736]
- 51. McGinnies, William J.; Shantz, Homer L.; McGinnies, William G. 1991. Changes in vegetation and land use in eastern Colorado: A photographic study, 1904-1986. ARS-85. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service. 165 p. [18826]
- 55. Mitchell, William W. 1957. An ecological study of the grasslands in the region of Missoula, Montana. Missoula, MT: University of Montana. 111 p. Thesis. [1665]
- 58. Ramaley, Francis. 1939. Sand-hill vegetation of northeastern Colorado. Ecological Monographs. 9(1): 1-51. [5546]
- 72. Tisdale, E. W. 1947. The grasslands of the southern interior of British Columbia. Ecology. 28(4): 346-382. [2340]
- 79. Weber, William A.; Wittmann, Ronald C. 1996. Colorado flora: eastern slope. 2nd ed. Niwot, CO: University Press of Colorado. 524 p. [27572]
- 80. Welsh, Stanley L.; Atwood, N. Duane; Goodrich, Sherel; Higgins, Larry C., eds. 1987. A Utah flora. The Great Basin Naturalist Memoir No. 9. Provo, UT: Brigham Young University. 894 p. [2944]
- 18. Collins, P. D.; Harper, K. T. 1982. Habitat types of the Curlew National Grassland, Idaho. Provo, UT: Brigham Young University, Department of Botany and Range Science. 46 p. [Editorial draft]. [663]
- 62. Schacht, Walter H.; Volesky, Jerry D.; Bauer, Dennis; [and others]. 2000. Plant community patterns on upland prairie in the eastern Nebraska sandhills. The Prairie Naturalist. 32(1): 43-58. [40222]
- 77. Washington Natural Heritage Program. 2005. Opuntia fragilis--brittle prickly-pear, [Online]. In: Field guide to selected rare plants of Washington. Washington State Department of Natural Resources (Producer). Available: http://www.dna.wa.gov/nhp/refdesk/fguide/pdf/opufra.pdf. [54932]
- 81. Whitman, W. C. 1979. Analysis of grassland vegetation on selected key areas in southwestern North Dakota. REAP [Regional Environmental Assessment Program] Contract No. 7-01-2. Fargo, ND: North Dakota State University, Department of Botany. 199 p. [3321]
Trusted
Habitat: Rangeland Cover Types
More info on this topic.
This species is known to occur in association with the following Rangeland Cover Types (as classified by the Society for Range Management, SRM):
More info for the terms: cover, shrub
SRM (RANGELAND) COVER TYPES [65]:
101 Bluebunch wheatgrass
102 Idaho fescue
104 Antelope bitterbrush-bluebunch wheatgrass
105 Antelope bitterbrush-Idaho fescue
109 Ponderosa pine shrubland
110 Ponderosa pine-grassland
212 Blackbush
301 Bluebunch wheatgrass-blue grama
302 Bluebunch wheatgrass-Sandberg bluegrass
303 Bluebunch wheatgrass-western wheatgrass
304 Idaho fescue-bluebunch wheatgrass
309 Idaho fescue-western wheatgrass
310 Needle-and-thread-blue grama
311 Rough fescue-bluebunch wheatgrass
314 Big sagebrush-bluebunch wheatgrass
317 Bitterbrush-bluebunch wheatgrass
320 Black sagebrush-bluebunch wheatgrass
322 Curlleaf mountain-mahogany-bluebunch wheatgrass
401 Basin big sagebrush
402 Mountain big sagebrush
403 Wyoming big sagebrush
404 Threetip sagebrush
405 Black sagebrush
406 Low sagebrush
408 Other sagebrush types
412 Juniper-pinyon woodland
414 Salt desert shrub
415 Curlleaf mountain-mahogany
416 True mountain-mahogany
417 Littleleaf mountain-mahogany
501 Saltbush-greasewood
502 Grama-galleta
504 Juniper-pinyon pine woodland
505 Grama-tobosa shrub
601 Bluestem prairie
602 Bluestem-prairie sandreed
603 Prairie sandreed-needlegrass
604 Bluestem-grama prairie
605 Sandsage prairie
606 Wheatgrass-bluestem-needlegrass
607 Wheatgrass-needlegrass
608 Wheatgrass-grama-needlegrass
609 Wheatgrass-grama
610 Wheatgrass
611 Blue grama-buffalo grass
612 Sagebrush-grass
613 Fescue grassland
614 Crested wheatgrass
615 Wheatgrass-saltgrass-grama
701 Alkali sacaton-tobosagrass
702 Black grama-alkali sacaton
703 Black grama-sideoats grama
704 Blue grama-western wheatgrass
705 Blue grama-galleta
706 Blue grama-sideoats grama
707 Blue grama-sideoats grama-black grama
708 Bluestem-dropseed
709 Bluestem-grama
710 Bluestem prairie
711 Bluestem-sacahuista prairie
712 Galleta-alkali sacaton
713 Grama-muhly-threeawn
714 Grama-bluestem
715 Grama-buffalo grass
716 Grama-feathergrass
717 Little bluestem-Indiangrass-Texas wintergrass
718 Mesquite-grama
720 Sand bluestem-little bluestem (dunes)
721 Sand bluestem-little bluestem (plains)
722 Sand sagebrush-mixed prairie
724 Sideoats grama-New Mexico feathergrass-winterfat
727 Mesquite-buffalo grass
729 Mesquite
733 Juniper-oak
734 Mesquite-oak
735 Sideoats grama-sumac-juniper
This species is known to occur in association with the following Rangeland Cover Types (as classified by the Society for Range Management, SRM):
More info for the terms: cover, shrub
SRM (RANGELAND) COVER TYPES [65]:
101 Bluebunch wheatgrass
102 Idaho fescue
104 Antelope bitterbrush-bluebunch wheatgrass
105 Antelope bitterbrush-Idaho fescue
109 Ponderosa pine shrubland
110 Ponderosa pine-grassland
212 Blackbush
301 Bluebunch wheatgrass-blue grama
302 Bluebunch wheatgrass-Sandberg bluegrass
303 Bluebunch wheatgrass-western wheatgrass
304 Idaho fescue-bluebunch wheatgrass
309 Idaho fescue-western wheatgrass
310 Needle-and-thread-blue grama
311 Rough fescue-bluebunch wheatgrass
314 Big sagebrush-bluebunch wheatgrass
317 Bitterbrush-bluebunch wheatgrass
320 Black sagebrush-bluebunch wheatgrass
322 Curlleaf mountain-mahogany-bluebunch wheatgrass
401 Basin big sagebrush
402 Mountain big sagebrush
403 Wyoming big sagebrush
404 Threetip sagebrush
405 Black sagebrush
406 Low sagebrush
408 Other sagebrush types
412 Juniper-pinyon woodland
414 Salt desert shrub
415 Curlleaf mountain-mahogany
416 True mountain-mahogany
417 Littleleaf mountain-mahogany
501 Saltbush-greasewood
502 Grama-galleta
504 Juniper-pinyon pine woodland
505 Grama-tobosa shrub
601 Bluestem prairie
602 Bluestem-prairie sandreed
603 Prairie sandreed-needlegrass
604 Bluestem-grama prairie
605 Sandsage prairie
606 Wheatgrass-bluestem-needlegrass
607 Wheatgrass-needlegrass
608 Wheatgrass-grama-needlegrass
609 Wheatgrass-grama
610 Wheatgrass
611 Blue grama-buffalo grass
612 Sagebrush-grass
613 Fescue grassland
614 Crested wheatgrass
615 Wheatgrass-saltgrass-grama
701 Alkali sacaton-tobosagrass
702 Black grama-alkali sacaton
703 Black grama-sideoats grama
704 Blue grama-western wheatgrass
705 Blue grama-galleta
706 Blue grama-sideoats grama
707 Blue grama-sideoats grama-black grama
708 Bluestem-dropseed
709 Bluestem-grama
710 Bluestem prairie
711 Bluestem-sacahuista prairie
712 Galleta-alkali sacaton
713 Grama-muhly-threeawn
714 Grama-bluestem
715 Grama-buffalo grass
716 Grama-feathergrass
717 Little bluestem-Indiangrass-Texas wintergrass
718 Mesquite-grama
720 Sand bluestem-little bluestem (dunes)
721 Sand bluestem-little bluestem (plains)
722 Sand sagebrush-mixed prairie
724 Sideoats grama-New Mexico feathergrass-winterfat
727 Mesquite-buffalo grass
729 Mesquite
733 Juniper-oak
734 Mesquite-oak
735 Sideoats grama-sumac-juniper
- 65. Shiflet, Thomas N., ed. 1994. Rangeland cover types of the United States. Denver, CO: Society for Range Management. 152 p. [23362]
Trusted
Habitat: Cover Types
More info on this topic.
This species is known to occur in association with the following cover types (as classified by the Society of American Foresters):
More info for the term: cover
SAF COVER TYPES [20]:
42 Bur Oak
68 Mesquite
220 Rocky Mountain juniper
236 Bur oak
237 Interior ponderosa pine
239 Pinyon-juniper
242 Mesquite
This species is known to occur in association with the following cover types (as classified by the Society of American Foresters):
More info for the term: cover
SAF COVER TYPES [20]:
42 Bur Oak
68 Mesquite
220 Rocky Mountain juniper
236 Bur oak
237 Interior ponderosa pine
239 Pinyon-juniper
242 Mesquite
- 20. Eyre, F. H., ed. 1980. Forest cover types of the United States and Canada. Washington, DC: Society of American Foresters. 148 p. [905]
Trusted
Habitat: Plant Associations
More info on this topic.
This species is known to occur in association with the following plant community types (as classified by Küchler 1964):
More info for the term: shrub
KUCHLER [44] PLANT ASSOCIATIONS:
K010 Ponderosa shrub forest
K011 Western ponderosa pine forest
K016 Eastern ponderosa forest
K017 Black Hills pine forest
K018 Pine-Douglas-fir forest
K019 Arizona pine forest
K023 Juniper-pinyon woodland
K024 Juniper steppe woodland
K031 Oak-juniper woodland
K037 Mountain-mahogany-oak scrub
K038 Great Basin sagebrush
K039 Blackbrush
K040 Saltbush-greasewood
K053 Grama-galleta steppe
K055 Sagebrush steppe
K056 Wheatgrass-needlegrass shrubsteppe
K058 Grama-tobosa shrubsteppe
K063 Foothills prairie
K064 Grama-needlegrass-wheatgrass
K065 Grama-buffalo grass
K066 Wheatgrass-needlegrass
K067 Wheatgrass-bluestem-needlegrass
K068 Wheatgrass-grama-buffalo grass
K069 Bluestem-grama prairie
K070 Sandsage-bluestem prairie
K074 Bluestem prairie
K075 Nebraska Sandhills prairie
K082 Mosaic of K074 and K100
K085 Mesquite-buffalo grass
K086 Juniper-oak savanna
K087 Mesquite-oak savanna
This species is known to occur in association with the following plant community types (as classified by Küchler 1964):
More info for the term: shrub
KUCHLER [44] PLANT ASSOCIATIONS:
K010 Ponderosa shrub forest
K011 Western ponderosa pine forest
K016 Eastern ponderosa forest
K017 Black Hills pine forest
K018 Pine-Douglas-fir forest
K019 Arizona pine forest
K023 Juniper-pinyon woodland
K024 Juniper steppe woodland
K031 Oak-juniper woodland
K037 Mountain-mahogany-oak scrub
K038 Great Basin sagebrush
K039 Blackbrush
K040 Saltbush-greasewood
K053 Grama-galleta steppe
K055 Sagebrush steppe
K056 Wheatgrass-needlegrass shrubsteppe
K058 Grama-tobosa shrubsteppe
K063 Foothills prairie
K064 Grama-needlegrass-wheatgrass
K065 Grama-buffalo grass
K066 Wheatgrass-needlegrass
K067 Wheatgrass-bluestem-needlegrass
K068 Wheatgrass-grama-buffalo grass
K069 Bluestem-grama prairie
K070 Sandsage-bluestem prairie
K074 Bluestem prairie
K075 Nebraska Sandhills prairie
K082 Mosaic of K074 and K100
K085 Mesquite-buffalo grass
K086 Juniper-oak savanna
K087 Mesquite-oak savanna
- 44. Kuchler, A. W. 1964. United States [Potential natural vegetation of the conterminous United States]. Special Publication No. 36. New York: American Geographical Society. 1:3,168,000; colored. [3455]
Trusted
Habitat: Ecosystem
More info on this topic.
This species is known to occur in the following ecosystem types (as named by the U.S. Forest Service in their Forest and Range Ecosystem [FRES] Type classification):
ECOSYSTEMS [24]:
FRES21 Ponderosa pine
FRES29 Sagebrush
FRES30 Desert shrub
FRES32 Texas savanna
FRES33 Southwestern shrubsteppe
FRES35 Pinyon-juniper
FRES36 Mountain grasslands
FRES38 Plains grasslands
FRES39 Prairie
FRES40 Desert grasslands
This species is known to occur in the following ecosystem types (as named by the U.S. Forest Service in their Forest and Range Ecosystem [FRES] Type classification):
ECOSYSTEMS [24]:
FRES21 Ponderosa pine
FRES29 Sagebrush
FRES30 Desert shrub
FRES32 Texas savanna
FRES33 Southwestern shrubsteppe
FRES35 Pinyon-juniper
FRES36 Mountain grasslands
FRES38 Plains grasslands
FRES39 Prairie
FRES40 Desert grasslands
- 24. Garrison, George A.; Bjugstad, Ardell J.; Duncan, Don A.; Lewis, Mont E.; Smith, Dixie R. 1977. Vegetation and environmental features of forest and range ecosystems. Agric. Handb. 475. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service. 68 p. [998]
Trusted
Barren areas in grasslands, woodlands, sandy or gravelly soils, on outcrops of granite, limestone, or quartzite; 0-2400m.
© Missouri Botanical Garden, 4344 Shaw Boulevard, St. Louis, MO, 63110 USA
Source:
Missouri Botanical Garden
Trusted
Comments: Sandy, gravelly, or rocky soils of valleys, low hills, or mountainsides mostly in the desert, plains.
© NatureServe
Source:
NatureServe
Trusted
Population Biology
Number of Occurrences
Note: For many non-migratory species, occurrences are roughly equivalent to populations.
Estimated Number of Occurrences: 81 to >300
Comments: Over 100 EO's (Benson 1982).
© NatureServe
Source:
NatureServe
Trusted
General Ecology
Fire Management Considerations
More info for the terms: fire exclusion, fire frequency, frequency
Repeated fires can greatly reduce populations of Opuntia species. High fire frequency may eliminate
brittle pricklypears from a site for many years until new plants
reestablish from seeds or pads carried onto the site by birds or mammals [9,70].
In Washington, brittle pricklypear habitat has been greatly reduced due to
development and forest expansion resulting from fire exclusion [77].
Repeated fires can greatly reduce populations of Opuntia species. High fire frequency may eliminate
brittle pricklypears from a site for many years until new plants
reestablish from seeds or pads carried onto the site by birds or mammals [9,70].
In Washington, brittle pricklypear habitat has been greatly reduced due to
development and forest expansion resulting from fire exclusion [77].
- 9. Benson, Lyman. 1982. The cacti of the United States and Canada. Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press. 1044 p. [1513]
- 70. Thomas, P. A. 1997. Fire and the conservation of succulents in grasslands. In: Greenlee, Jason M., ed. Proceedings, 1st conference on fire effects on rare and endangered species and habitats; 1995 November 13-16; Coeur d'Alene, ID. Fairfield, WA: International Association of Wildland Fire: 173-178. [28134]
- 77. Washington Natural Heritage Program. 2005. Opuntia fragilis--brittle prickly-pear, [Online]. In: Field guide to selected rare plants of Washington. Washington State Department of Natural Resources (Producer). Available: http://www.dna.wa.gov/nhp/refdesk/fguide/pdf/opufra.pdf. [54932]
Trusted
Plant Response to Fire
More info for the term: root crown
Following mortality of aboveground tissues, brittle pricklypear grows new pads
from buds in the root crown. New plants also develop from surviving pads
that readily grow new roots whether the pads are detached or still attached to
the parent plant [70].
Following mortality of aboveground tissues, brittle pricklypear grows new pads
from buds in the root crown. New plants also develop from surviving pads
that readily grow new roots whether the pads are detached or still attached to
the parent plant [70].
- 70. Thomas, P. A. 1997. Fire and the conservation of succulents in grasslands. In: Greenlee, Jason M., ed. Proceedings, 1st conference on fire effects on rare and endangered species and habitats; 1995 November 13-16; Coeur d'Alene, ID. Fairfield, WA: International Association of Wildland Fire: 173-178. [28134]
Trusted
Immediate Effect of Fire
More info for the terms: high-severity fire, litter, low-severity fire, moderate-severity fire
The aboveground parts of brittle pricklypear are readily killed by even
low-severity fire. Some fleshy pads may survive low- to moderate-severity fire when
they are partially covered by litter or sheltered within a
clump of stems. High-severity fire usually kills the entire plant [10,70].
The aboveground parts of brittle pricklypear are readily killed by even
low-severity fire. Some fleshy pads may survive low- to moderate-severity fire when
they are partially covered by litter or sheltered within a
clump of stems. High-severity fire usually kills the entire plant [10,70].
- 10. Benson, Lyman; Walkington, David L. 1965. The southern Californian prickly pears--invasion, adulteration, and trial-by-fire. Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden. 52: 262-273. [5267]
- 70. Thomas, P. A. 1997. Fire and the conservation of succulents in grasslands. In: Greenlee, Jason M., ed. Proceedings, 1st conference on fire effects on rare and endangered species and habitats; 1995 November 13-16; Coeur d'Alene, ID. Fairfield, WA: International Association of Wildland Fire: 173-178. [28134]
Trusted
Post-fire Regeneration
More info for the term: root crown
POSTFIRE REGENERATION STRATEGY [67]:
Surface rhizome/chamaephytic root crown in organic mantle or on soil surface
Ground residual colonizer (on-site, initial community)
Initial off-site colonizer (off-site, initial community)
Secondary colonizer (on-site or off-site seed sources)
POSTFIRE REGENERATION STRATEGY [67]:
Surface rhizome/chamaephytic root crown in organic mantle or on soil surface
Ground residual colonizer (on-site, initial community)
Initial off-site colonizer (off-site, initial community)
Secondary colonizer (on-site or off-site seed sources)
- 67. Stickney, Peter F. 1989. FEIS postfire regeneration workshop--April 12: Seral origin of species comprising secondary plant succession in Northern Rocky Mountain forests. 10 p. Unpublished draft on file at: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Intermountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory, Missoula, MT. [20090]
Trusted
Fire Ecology
More info for the terms: fire tolerant, layering, litter, root crown
Fire adaptations:
Thomas [70] lists brittle pricklypear as fire tolerant. Brittle pricklypear is adapted to
survive fire by sprouting from the root crown, by layering from old pads that
were buried and protected in the litter layer, and by new seedling
establishment [69,70].
FIRE REGIMES:
Brittle pricklypear occurs in plant communities with a wide range of fire
frequencies, from less than 10 years for many prairie and grassland communities,
to the 400 years possible for the Colorado pinyon (Pinus edulis)
community. As of this writing (2005), fire ecology studies are lacking for brittle pricklypear.
The following table provides fire return intervals for plant communities
and ecosystems where brittle pricklypear occurs. For further information, see
the FEIS review of the dominant species listed below.
*fire return interval varies widely; trends in variation are noted in the species review
Fire adaptations:
Thomas [70] lists brittle pricklypear as fire tolerant. Brittle pricklypear is adapted to
survive fire by sprouting from the root crown, by layering from old pads that
were buried and protected in the litter layer, and by new seedling
establishment [69,70].
FIRE REGIMES:
Brittle pricklypear occurs in plant communities with a wide range of fire
frequencies, from less than 10 years for many prairie and grassland communities,
to the 400 years possible for the Colorado pinyon (Pinus edulis)
community. As of this writing (2005), fire ecology studies are lacking for brittle pricklypear.
The following table provides fire return intervals for plant communities
and ecosystems where brittle pricklypear occurs. For further information, see
the FEIS review of the dominant species listed below.
| Community or Ecosystem | Dominant Species | Fire Return Interval Range (years) |
| bluestem prairie | Andropogon gerardii var. gerardii-Schizachyrium scoparium | 43,56] |
| Nebraska sandhills prairie | Andropogon gerardii var. paucipilus-Schizachyrium scoparium | <10 |
| bluestem-Sacahuista prairie | Andropogon littoralis-Spartina spartinae | <10 [56] |
| silver sagebrush steppe | Artemisia cana | 5-45 [29,57,83] |
| sagebrush steppe | Artemisia tridentata/Pseudoroegneria spicata | 20-70 [56] |
| basin big sagebrush | Artemisia tridentata var. tridentata | 12-43 [61] |
| mountain big sagebrush | Artemisia tridentata var. vaseyana | 15-40 [4,16,54] |
| Wyoming big sagebrush | Artemisia tridentata var. wyomingensis | 10-70 (40**) [74,84] |
| saltbush-greasewood | Atriplex confertifolia-Sarcobatus vermiculatus | 56] |
| desert grasslands | Bouteloua eriopoda and/or Pleuraphis mutica | 10 to <100 [52,56] |
| plains grasslands | Bouteloua spp. | <35 [56,83] |
| blue grama-needle-and-thread grass-western wheatgrass | Bouteloua gracilis-Hesperostipa comata-Pascopyrum smithii | <35 [56,60,83] |
| blue grama-buffalo grass | Bouteloua gracilis-Buchloe dactyloides | <35 [56,83] |
| grama-galleta steppe | Bouteloua gracilis-Pleuraphis jamesii | <35 to <100 |
| blue grama-tobosa prairie | Bouteloua gracilis-Pleuraphis mutica | 56] |
| blackbrush | Coleogyne ramosissima | <35 to <100 |
| Rocky Mountain juniper | Juniperus scopulorum | <35 [56] |
| wheatgrass plains grasslands | Pascopyrum smithii | <5-47+ [56,57,83] |
| pinyon-juniper | Pinus-Juniperus spp. | <35 [56] |
| Colorado pinyon | Pinus edulis | 10-400+ [22,26,41,56] |
| interior ponderosa pine* | Pinus ponderosa var. scopulorum | 2-30 [3,6,47] |
| Arizona pine | Pinus ponderosa var. arizonica | 2-15 [6,19,64] |
| mesquite | Prosopis glandulosa | <35 to <100 [52,56] |
| mesquite-buffalo grass | Prosopis glandulosa-Buchloe dactyloides | <35 |
| Texas savanna | Prosopis glandulosa var. glandulosa | <10 [56] |
| mountain grasslands | Pseudoroegneria spicata | 3-40 (µ=10) [2,3] |
| oak-juniper woodland (Southwest) | Quercus-Juniperus spp. | <35 to <200 [56] |
| blackland prairie | Schizachyrium scoparium-Nassella leucotricha | <10 |
| Fayette prairie | Schizachyrium scoparium-Buchloe dactyloides | <10 [75] |
| little bluestem-grama prairie | Schizachyrium scoparium-Bouteloua spp. | <35 [56] |
*fire return interval varies widely; trends in variation are noted in the species review
- 2. Arno, Stephen F. 1980. Forest fire history in the Northern Rockies. Journal of Forestry. 78(8): 460-465. [11990]
- 3. Arno, Stephen F. 2000. Fire in western forest ecosystems. In: Brown, James K.; Smith, Jane Kapler, eds. Wildland fire in ecosystems: Effects of fire on flora. Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-42-vol. 2. Ogden, UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station: 97-120. [36984]
- 4. Arno, Stephen F.; Gruell, George E. 1983. Fire history at the forest-grassland ecotone in southwestern Montana. Journal of Range Management. 36(3): 332-336. [342]
- 6. Baisan, Christopher H.; Swetnam, Thomas W. 1990. Fire history on a desert mountain range: Rincon Mountain Wilderness, Arizona, U.S.A. Canadian Journal of Forest Research. 20: 1559-1569. [14986]
- 16. Burkhardt, Wayne J.; Tisdale, E. W. 1976. Causes of juniper invasion in southwestern Idaho. Ecology. 57: 472-484. [565]
- 19. Cooper, Charles F. 1961. Pattern in ponderosa pine forests. Ecology. 42(3): 493-499. [5780]
- 22. Floyd, M. Lisa; Romme, William H.; Hanna, David D. 2000. Fire history and vegetation pattern in Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado, USA. Ecological Applications. 10(6): 1666-1680. [37590]
- 47. Laven, R. D.; Omi, P. N.; Wyant, J. G.; Pinkerton, A. S. 1980. Interpretation of fire scar data from a ponderosa pine ecosystem in the central Rocky Mountains, Colorado. In: Stokes, Marvin A.; Dieterich, John H., technical coordinators. Proceedings of the fire history workshop; 1980 October 20-24; Tucson, AZ. Gen. Tech. Rep. RM-81. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station: 46-49. [7183]
- 52. McPherson, Guy R. 1995. The role of fire in the desert grasslands. In: McClaran, Mitchel P.; Van Devender, Thomas R., eds. The desert grassland. Tucson, AZ: The University of Arizona Press: 130-151. [26576]
- 54. Miller, Richard F.; Rose, Jeffery A. 1995. Historic expansion of Juniperus occidentalis (western juniper) in southeastern Oregon. The Great Basin Naturalist. 55(1): 37-45. [26637]
- 57. Quinnild, Clayton L.; Cosby, Hugh E. 1958. Relicts of climax vegetation on two mesas in western North Dakota. Ecology. 39(1): 29-32. [1925]
- 60. Rowe, J. S. 1969. Lightning fires in Saskatchewan grassland. Canadian Field-Naturalist. 83: 317-324. [6266]
- 61. Sapsis, David B. 1990. Ecological effects of spring and fall prescribed burning on basin big sagebrush/Idaho fescue--bluebunch wheatgrass communities. Corvallis, OR: Oregon State University. 105 p. Thesis. [16579]
- 69. Thomas, P. A. 1991. Response of succulents to fire: a review. International Journal of Wildland Fire. 1(1): 11-22. [14991]
- 70. Thomas, P. A. 1997. Fire and the conservation of succulents in grasslands. In: Greenlee, Jason M., ed. Proceedings, 1st conference on fire effects on rare and endangered species and habitats; 1995 November 13-16; Coeur d'Alene, ID. Fairfield, WA: International Association of Wildland Fire: 173-178. [28134]
- 74. Vincent, Dwain W. 1992. The sagebrush/grasslands of the upper Rio Puerco area, New Mexico. Rangelands. 14(5): 268-271. [19698]
- 83. Wright, Henry A.; Bailey, Arthur W. 1982. Fire ecology: United States and southern Canada. New York: John Wiley & Sons. 501 p. [2620]
- 84. Young, James A.; Evans, Raymond A. 1981. Demography and fire history of a western juniper stand. Journal of Range Management. 34(6): 501-505. [2659]
- 41. Keeley, Jon E. 1981. Reproductive cycles and FIRE REGIMES. In: Mooney, H. A.; Bonnicksen, T. M.; Christensen, N. L.; Lotan, J. E.; Reiners, W. A., technical coordinators. FIRE REGIMES and ecosystem properties: Proceedings of the conference; 1978 December 11-15; Honolulu, HI. Gen. Tech. Rep. WO-26. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service: 231-277. [4395]
- 26. Gottfried, Gerald J.; Swetnam, Thomas W.; Allen, Craig D.; [and others]. 1995. Pinyon-juniper woodlands. In: Finch, Deborah M.; Tainter, Joseph A., eds. Ecology, diversity, and sustainability of the Middle Rio Grande Basin. Gen. Tech. Rep. RM-GTR-268. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station: 95-132. [26188]
- 29. Heyerdahl, Emily K.; Berry, Dawn; Agee, James K. 1994. Fire history database of the western United States. Final report. Interagency agreement: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency DW12934530; U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service PNW-93-0300; University of Washington 61-2239. Seattle, WA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Pacific Northwest Research Station; University of Washington, College of Forest Resources. 28 p. [+ appendices]. Unpublished report on file with: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory, Missoula, MT. [27979]
- 56. Paysen, Timothy E.; Ansley, R. James; Brown, James K.; [and others]. 2000. Fire in western shrubland, woodland, and grassland ecosystems. In: Brown, James K.; Smith, Jane Kapler, eds. Wildland fire in ecosystems: Effects of fire on flora. Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-42-volume 2. Ogden, UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station: 121-159. [36978]
- 64. Seklecki, Mariette T.; Grissino-Mayer, Henri D.; Swetnam, Thomas W. 1996. Fire history and the possible role of Apache-set fires in the Chiricahua Mountains of southeastern Arizona. In: Ffolliott, Peter F.; DeBano, Leonard F.; Baker, Malchus, B., Jr.; [and others], tech. coords. Effects of fire on Madrean Province ecosystems: a symposium proceedings; 1996 March 11-15; Tucson, AZ. Gen. Tech. Rep. RM-GTR-289. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station: 238-246. [28082]
- 75. Wade, Dale D.; Brock, Brent L.; Brose, Patrick H.; [and others]. 2000. Fire in eastern ecosystems. In: Brown, James K.; Smith, Jane Kapler, eds. Wildland fire in ecosystems: Effects of fire on flora. Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-42-vol. 2. Ogden, UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station: 53-96. [36983]
Trusted
Successional Status
More info on this topic.
More info for the terms: forbs, lichens, shrubs, succession
Brittle pricklypear is often an early seral species and is shade intolerant. It may persist well
on shallow soils of low fertility where other plants are sparse, but may decrease on more fertile sites as
taller vegetation becomes established [48,77]. In a study of rock outcrop
succession in boreal Manitoba, brittle pricklypear was the 1st of the
stress-tolerant perennials to occupy rock outcrops. The successional sequence
was: 1) lichens (Parmelia and Cladonia spp.), 2) moss (Grimmia
and Hedwigia spp.) mats, 3) vascular annuals, 4) short-lived perennial
forbs 5) stress-tolerant, long-lived perennial forbs, 6) deep-rooted perennial grasses, and
7) trees and shrubs. Brittle pricklypear did not persist past stage 4 [23].
More info for the terms: forbs, lichens, shrubs, succession
Brittle pricklypear is often an early seral species and is shade intolerant. It may persist well
on shallow soils of low fertility where other plants are sparse, but may decrease on more fertile sites as
taller vegetation becomes established [48,77]. In a study of rock outcrop
succession in boreal Manitoba, brittle pricklypear was the 1st of the
stress-tolerant perennials to occupy rock outcrops. The successional sequence
was: 1) lichens (Parmelia and Cladonia spp.), 2) moss (Grimmia
and Hedwigia spp.) mats, 3) vascular annuals, 4) short-lived perennial
forbs 5) stress-tolerant, long-lived perennial forbs, 6) deep-rooted perennial grasses, and
7) trees and shrubs. Brittle pricklypear did not persist past stage 4 [23].
- 23. Frego, Katherine A.; Staniforth, Richard J. 1986. Vegetation sequence on three boreal Manitoban rock outcrops and seral position of Opuntia fragilis. Canadian Journal of Botany. 64(1): 77-84. [55073]
- 48. Loik, Michael E.; Nobel, Park S. 1993. Freezing tolerance and water relations of Opuntia fragilis from Canada and the United States. Ecology. 74(6): 1722-1732. [22587]
- 77. Washington Natural Heritage Program. 2005. Opuntia fragilis--brittle prickly-pear, [Online]. In: Field guide to selected rare plants of Washington. Washington State Department of Natural Resources (Producer). Available: http://www.dna.wa.gov/nhp/refdesk/fguide/pdf/opufra.pdf. [54932]
Trusted
Regeneration Processes
More info for the terms: layering, monoecious
Brittle pricklypear reproduces by seeds, layering, and sprouting from detached stem
segments [68].
Breeding system:
Brittle pricklypear is monoecious [9].
Pollination:
Brittle pricklypear is pollinated by insects [9].
Seed production:
Brittle pricklypear does not dependably flower every year in its northerly
range, thus limiting seed production in these areas [9,48,79].
Seed dispersal:
Seeds of brittle pricklypear are primarily spread when the fruits are eaten by frugivorous birds
and small mammals. Fruits also readily attach to the fur and feathers of animals
[8,68].
Seed banking:
No information is available on this topic.
Germination:
Germination rate is reportedly low for seeds of Opuntia species [71].
Seedling establishment/growth:
Although the literature reports that brittle pricklypear regenerates by seeds
[9], information is lacking on the specifics of seedling establishment and
growth.
Asexual regeneration:
Asexual reproduction occurs from detached pads which readily root even in the absence of
water. The pads are primarily dispersed by attaching to animals by the
barbed spines. The pads are also dispersed by gravity and by floating in water
during heavy rains or snow melt. In the northerly range of brittle pricklypear, flowering can be
rare and the plant may depend wholly on vegetative reproduction [9,48].
- 8. Bare, Janet E. 1979. Wildflowers and weeds of Kansas. Lawrence, KS: The Regents Press of Kansas. 509 p. [3801]
- 9. Benson, Lyman. 1982. The cacti of the United States and Canada. Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press. 1044 p. [1513]
- 48. Loik, Michael E.; Nobel, Park S. 1993. Freezing tolerance and water relations of Opuntia fragilis from Canada and the United States. Ecology. 74(6): 1722-1732. [22587]
- 68. Stubbendieck, James; Coffin, Mitchell J.; Landholt, L. M. 2003. Weeds of the Great Plains. 3rd ed. Lincoln, NE: Nebraska Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Plant Industry. 605 p. In cooperation with: University of Nebraska - Lincoln. [50776]
- 71. Thornber, J.J. 1911. Native cacti as emergency forage plants. In: Bulletin No. 67. Tucson, AZ: University of Arizona, Agricultural Experiment Station: 457-508. [5089]
- 79. Weber, William A.; Wittmann, Ronald C. 1996. Colorado flora: eastern slope. 2nd ed. Niwot, CO: University Press of Colorado. 524 p. [27572]
Trusted
Growth Form (according to Raunkiær Life-form classification)
More info on this topic.
More info for the terms: hemicryptophyte, stem succulent
RAUNKIAER [59] LIFE FORM:
Hemicryptophyte
Stem succulent
More info for the terms: hemicryptophyte, stem succulent
RAUNKIAER [59] LIFE FORM:
Hemicryptophyte
Stem succulent
- 59. Raunkiaer, C. 1934. The life forms of plants and statistical plant geography. Oxford: Clarendon Press. 632 p. [2843]
Trusted
It is extremely cold tolerant, growing in Canada almost to the arctic circle (Weniger 1970). Species is fire adapted sprouting from root crown and layering from pads bureied in substrate protected from fire (Taylor, 2005).
© NatureServe
Source:
NatureServe
Trusted
Life History and Behavior
Cyclicity
Phenology
More info on this topic.
Brittle pricklypear flowers from May at low elevations to July at high
elevations. Fruits mature 2 to 3 months after flowering and many persist
until the following spring [9,25,50].
Brittle pricklypear flowers from May at low elevations to July at high
elevations. Fruits mature 2 to 3 months after flowering and many persist
until the following spring [9,25,50].
- 9. Benson, Lyman. 1982. The cacti of the United States and Canada. Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press. 1044 p. [1513]
- 25. Gleason, Henry A.; Cronquist, Arthur. 1991. Manual of vascular plants of northeastern United States and adjacent Canada. 2nd ed. New York: New York Botanical Garden. 910 p. [20329]
- 50. Martin, William C.; Hutchins, Charles R. 1981. A flora of New Mexico. Volume 2. Germany: J. Cramer. 2589 p. [37176]
Trusted
Flowering/Fruiting
Flowering summer (late Jun-early Jul).
© Missouri Botanical Garden, 4344 Shaw Boulevard, St. Louis, MO, 63110 USA
Source:
Missouri Botanical Garden
Trusted
Reproduction
This Opuntia mainly reproduces asexually by detachment of its stems or cladode. In O. fragilis terminal stem segments break off easily from the parent plant and and take-root producing clonal individuals (Rebman and Pinkava 2001). This species is also believed to be dispersed by bison (Valiente-Banuet and Godinez-Alvarez 2002).
© NatureServe
Source:
NatureServe
Trusted
Molecular Biology and Genetics
Molecular Biology
Barcode data: Opuntia fragilis
The following is a representative barcode sequence, the centroid of all available sequences for this species.
No available public DNA sequences.
Download FASTA File
No available public DNA sequences.
Download FASTA File
© Barcode of Life Data Systems
Trusted
Statistics of barcoding coverage: Opuntia fragilis
Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLDS) Stats
Public Records: 4
Specimens with Barcodes: 6
Species With Barcodes: 1
Public Records: 4
Specimens with Barcodes: 6
Species With Barcodes: 1
© Barcode of Life Data Systems
Trusted
Conservation
Conservation Status
Brittle pricklypear is state listed as protected in Nevada [73], threatened in
Iowa and Wisconsin [36,82], and endangered in Illinois and Michigan [35,53].
Little pricklypear is listed as threatened in Iowa, protected in Nevada, and
protected from salvage in Arizona. Pygmy pricklypear is listed as threatened in
Iowa, protected in Nevada, and protected from salvage in Arizona [73].
Iowa and Wisconsin [36,82], and endangered in Illinois and Michigan [35,53].
Little pricklypear is listed as threatened in Iowa, protected in Nevada, and
protected from salvage in Arizona. Pygmy pricklypear is listed as threatened in
Iowa, protected in Nevada, and protected from salvage in Arizona [73].
- 35. Illinois Endangered Species Protection Board. 2004. 2004 endangered and threatened species list, [Online]. Springfield, IL: Illinois Department of Natural Resources (Producer). Available: http://dnr.state.il.us/espb/datelist.htm [2005, October 23]. [54926]
- 36. Iowa Natural Resource Commission. 1999. Iowa Administrative Code 571--Chapter 77.3 (481B): Endangered, threatened, and special concern plants, [Online]. In: Endangered and threatened plant and animal species. Des Moines, IA: Iowa Department of Natural Resources (Producer). Available: http://www.iowadnr.com/other/files/chapter77.pdf [2005, October 28]. [54928]
- 53. Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Michigan Natural Features Inventory. 1999. Michigan's special plants, [Online]. Michigan State University Extension (Producer). Available: http://web4.msue.msu.edu/mnfi/data/specialplants.cfm [2005, February 8]. [37225]
- 73. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service. 2005. PLANTS database (2005), [Online]. Available: http://plants.usda.gov/. [34262]
- 82. Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Natural Heritage Inventory Program. 2004. Brittle pricky pear (Opuntia fragilis), [Online]. In: Endangered and threatened species factsheets--plants. Madison, WI: Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (Producer). Available: http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/land/er/factsheets/plants/pricpear.htm [2005, October 23]. [54930]
Trusted
National NatureServe Conservation Status
Canada
Rounded National Status Rank: NNR - Unranked
United States
Rounded National Status Rank: N4 - Apparently Secure
© NatureServe
Source:
NatureServe
Trusted
NatureServe Conservation Status
Rounded Global Status Rank: G4 - Apparently Secure
Reasons: Widespread throughout the mid-west and western United States.
© NatureServe
Source:
NatureServe
Trusted
Threats
Management
Management considerations
More info for the terms: cactus, cover
Brittle pricklypear may increase in response to heavy grazing. In a Sandberg
bluegrass grassland in southern British Columbia, brittle pricklypear was the
dominant herbaceous cover species in heavily grazed pastures [72].
However, researchers are not sure if brittle pricklypear populations respond to
a reduction in the preferred forage species or if grazing animals simply aid
brittle pricklypear's spread and establishment by transporting the pads on their bodies
[12].
Brittle pricklypear is susceptible to damage by several insects including
the cochineal scale, the cactus bug, and several species of cactus
borers [8,15,76].
Brittle pricklypear may increase in response to heavy grazing. In a Sandberg
bluegrass grassland in southern British Columbia, brittle pricklypear was the
dominant herbaceous cover species in heavily grazed pastures [72].
However, researchers are not sure if brittle pricklypear populations respond to
a reduction in the preferred forage species or if grazing animals simply aid
brittle pricklypear's spread and establishment by transporting the pads on their bodies
[12].
Brittle pricklypear is susceptible to damage by several insects including
the cochineal scale, the cactus bug, and several species of cactus
borers [8,15,76].
- 8. Bare, Janet E. 1979. Wildflowers and weeds of Kansas. Lawrence, KS: The Regents Press of Kansas. 509 p. [3801]
- 12. Berry, Joni. 1977. Effects of grazing pressure on Opuntia populations. Proceedings, South Dakota Academy of Science. 56: 271-272. [5169]
- 72. Tisdale, E. W. 1947. The grasslands of the southern interior of British Columbia. Ecology. 28(4): 346-382. [2340]
- 15. Burger, Jutta C.; Louda, Svata M. 1994. Indirect versus direct effects of grasses on growth of a cactus (Opuntia fragilis): insect herbivory versus competition. Oecologia. 99(1-2): 79-87. [55072]
- 76. Wangberg, James K.; Myers, Deanna. 1979. Biotic factors affecting the distribution and population size of cactus boring insects. In: Sosebee, Ronald E.; Wright, Henry A., eds. Research highlights--1979 noxious brush and weed control; range and wildlife management. Vol. 10. Lubbock, TX: Texas Tech University: 22. [2452]
Trusted
Relevance to Humans and Ecosystems
Benefits
Value for rehabilitation of disturbed sites
Brittle pricklypear has been recommended as a native species for roadside
recovery plantings in shrublands of Nevada [66].
recovery plantings in shrublands of Nevada [66].
- 66. Stark, N. 1966. Review of highway planting information appropriate to Nevada. Bull. No. B-7. Reno, NV: University of Nevada, College of Agriculture, Desert Research Institute. 209 p. In cooperation with: Nevada State Highway Department. [47]
Trusted
Importance to Livestock and Wildlife
Stems, fruits, and seeds of brittle pricklypear may comprise an appreciable
portion of the diet of at least 44 species of birds and mammals [8]. For
example, a study near Flagstaff, Arizona, showed that brittle pricklypear and
twist-spine pricklypear (Opuntia macrorhiza) were major food
items for Botta's pocket gophers in winter and spring. Although use was less, the
pocket gophers also consistently grazed pricklypears in summer and fall [7]. The
pads of Opuntia species can be used as emergency forage for livestock
after the spines have been singed off [34].
Brittle pricklypear provides food
for cactus-feeding insects including moths, bugs, and beetles. For a list of
insect species that graze brittle pricklypear, see [8,15,76].
Palatability/nutritional value:
Brittle pricklypear is low in nutritional value for livestock [34].
Cover value:
No information is available on this topic.
- 8. Bare, Janet E. 1979. Wildflowers and weeds of Kansas. Lawrence, KS: The Regents Press of Kansas. 509 p. [3801]
- 7. Bandoli, James H. 1981. Factors influencing seasonal burrowing activity in the pocket gopher, Thomomys bottae. Journal of Mammalogy. 62(2): 293-303. [55074]
- 15. Burger, Jutta C.; Louda, Svata M. 1994. Indirect versus direct effects of grasses on growth of a cactus (Opuntia fragilis): insect herbivory versus competition. Oecologia. 99(1-2): 79-87. [55072]
- 34. Humphrey, Robert R. 1960. Forage production on Arizona ranges. V. Pima, Pinal and Santa Cruz Counties. Bulletin 502. Tucson, AZ: University of Arizona, Agricultural Experiment Station. 137 p. [4520]
- 76. Wangberg, James K.; Myers, Deanna. 1979. Biotic factors affecting the distribution and population size of cactus boring insects. In: Sosebee, Ronald E.; Wright, Henry A., eds. Research highlights--1979 noxious brush and weed control; range and wildlife management. Vol. 10. Lubbock, TX: Texas Tech University: 22. [2452]
Trusted
Other uses and values
Humans eat the stems, fruits, and seeds of brittle pricklypear. The stems are
usually roasted and peeled before being eaten. Fruits are eaten raw, dried
or cooked and are often used to make jellies. Native Americans used the
mucilaginous juice from the stems as a fixing agent for paints [68].
Seeds are roasted and ground into flour [8]. Brittle pricklypear has
been used medicinally to sooth sore throats and relieve skin
irritations [39].
usually roasted and peeled before being eaten. Fruits are eaten raw, dried
or cooked and are often used to make jellies. Native Americans used the
mucilaginous juice from the stems as a fixing agent for paints [68].
Seeds are roasted and ground into flour [8]. Brittle pricklypear has
been used medicinally to sooth sore throats and relieve skin
irritations [39].
- 8. Bare, Janet E. 1979. Wildflowers and weeds of Kansas. Lawrence, KS: The Regents Press of Kansas. 509 p. [3801]
- 68. Stubbendieck, James; Coffin, Mitchell J.; Landholt, L. M. 2003. Weeds of the Great Plains. 3rd ed. Lincoln, NE: Nebraska Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Plant Industry. 605 p. In cooperation with: University of Nebraska - Lincoln. [50776]
- 39. Kartesz, John T.; Meacham, Christopher A. 1999. Synthesis of the North American flora (Windows Version 1.0), [CD-ROM]. Available: North Carolina Botanical Garden. In cooperation with the Nature Conservancy, Natural Resources Conservation Service, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service [2001, January 16]. [36715]
Trusted
Wikipedia
Opuntia fragilis
Opuntia fragilis, known by the common names brittle prickly pear and little prickly pear, is a prickly pear cactus native to much of North America. It occurs in several Canadian provinces. It is known from farther north than any other cactus,[1] occurring at as close as 8°south of the Arctic Circle, (58°N latitude) in Alberta.[2] There is an isolated and possibly genetically unique population in Eastern Ontario known as the "Kaladar Cactus".[3]
Contents |
Description[edit]
Brittle Prickly Pear is a small decumbent cactus that grows to a maximum height of 10 centimeters (4 in).[4] Both the common and scientific names refer to the easily detached stem segments. This is known to be a means of plant dispersal.[4]
Opuntia fragilis is a small, prostrate plant, rarely more than 4 inches high: joints tumid, fragile, easily detached, oval, elliptical, or subglobose, 1-2 in. long and nearly as thick as broad, bright green: areoles ¼-½ in. apart, with whitish wool and a few white to yellow bristles, which are much longer and more abundant on older joints; spines 1-4, occasionally a few small additional ones, weak, dark brown, the upper one usually longer and stronger than the others, rarely an inch in length: flowers greenish yellow, 1-1¼ inches wide: fruit ovate to subglobose. with few spines or bristles, mostly sterile, an inch or less long; seeds few and large. Rocky Mountain region from Canada to New Mexico.[5]
Subspecies and varieties[edit]
- Var. brachyarthra, Coult. A plant with more swollen joints, more numerous and stronger spines, smaller flowers and more spiny fruit Colorado, New Mexico.
- Var. caespitosa, Hort. Joints bright green, smaller and more crowded than in the type: flowers bright yellow. Colorado.
- Var. tuberiformis, Hort. Joints olive-green, bulbous-looking. Colorado.
References[edit]
- ^ C.Michael Hogan. 2011. Cactus. Topic ed. Arthur Dawson. Ed.-in-chief Cutler J.Cleveland. Encyclopedia of Earth. National Council for Science and the Environment. Washington DC
- ^ US Forest Service
- ^ http://www3.sympatico.ca/lycacti/kaladar.html
- ^ a b 32. Opuntia fragilis (Nuttall) Haworth, Flora of North America
- ^ Haw.
Source:
Wikipedia
Trusted
Notes
Comments
Opuntia fragilis is a widespread, though inconspicuous, species; in many places, it flowers infrequently, if at all. Its easily detached stem segments are dispersed by animals and possibly water.
© Missouri Botanical Garden, 4344 Shaw Boulevard, St. Louis, MO, 63110 USA
Source:
Missouri Botanical Garden
Trusted
Disclaimer
EOL content is automatically assembled from many different content providers. As a result, from time to time you may find pages on EOL that are confusing.
To request an improvement, please leave a comment on the page. Thank you!
