Roadless Areas
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Opuntia ficus-indica

(L.) P. Mill.

Indian-fig

GNRUnranked Found in 16 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
GNRUnrankedGlobal Rank
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.150164
Element CodePDCAC0D0G0
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
CITESAppendix II
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassDicotyledoneae
OrderCaryophyllales
FamilyCactaceae
GenusOpuntia
Other Common Names
Barbary fig (EN) Barbary-fig (EN) Tuna Cactus (EN)
Concept Reference
Kartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.
Conservation Status
Edition Date2011-01-18
Edition AuthorsLAMBERT, A. (1988); Rev. Cordeiro, J. (2011)
Rank Reasons
This is a species known from most of tropical America that has been widely domesticated and introduced as a cactus crop in the New and Old World both historically and recently; as important as corn and tequila agave in the agricultural economy of modern Mexico.
Range Extent Comments
Known from most of tropical America. Introduced into Hawaiian Islands, California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and Florida. Because of its widespread cultivated distribution in the New and Old World, the geography and evolutionary origin is uncertain (Anderson 2001).
Threat Impact Comments
Most cacti subject to horticultural collecting.
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

In southern California, species established only where there is deep soil and a little subirrigation; washes in valleys.
Other Nations (1)
United StatesNNA
ProvinceRankNative
TexasSNANo
HawaiiSNANo
ArizonaSNANo
CaliforniaSNANo
New MexicoSNANo
FloridaSNANo
AlabamaSNANo
Plant Characteristics
DurationPERENNIAL, Long-lived
Economic Value (Genus)Yes
Roadless Areas (16)
Arizona (2)
AreaForestAcres
Catalina St. Pk. Roadless AreaCoronado National Forest951
Cdo WsaCoronado National Forest1,955
California (14)
AreaForestAcres
Arroyo SecoAngeles National Forest4,703
Barker ValleyCleveland National Forest11,940
Cucamonga CSan Bernardino National Forest4,106
Dry LakesLos Padres National Forest17,043
Magic MountainAngeles National Forest15,542
Malduce BuckhornLos Padres National Forest14,177
MatilijaLos Padres National Forest5,218
No NameCleveland National Forest4,897
NordhoffLos Padres National Forest12,031
San SevaineSan Bernardino National Forest6,866
Sill HillCleveland National Forest5,294
TequepisLos Padres National Forest9,080
West ForkAngeles National Forest1,169
White LedgeLos Padres National Forest18,632
References (5)
  1. Anderson, E. F. 2001. The Cactus Family. Timber Press, Portland, Oregon. 760 pp.
  2. Brucher, H. 1989. Useful Plants of Neotropical Origin and Their Wild Relatives. Springer-Verlag. New York. 296 pp.
  3. Flora of North America Editorial Committee (FNA). 2003b. Flora of North America north of Mexico. Vol. 4, Magnoliophyta: Caryophyllidae, part 1. Oxford University Press, New York. xxiv + 559 pp.
  4. Kartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.
  5. Little, E.L., Jr. 1979. Checklist of United States trees (native and naturalized). Agriculture Handbook No. 541. U.S. Forest Service, Washington, D.C. 375 pp.