Australian Succulents

The great prickly pear mystery

The Great Prickly Pear Mystery: A Problem of Origins and Identity    by Ian Menkins

Ian Menkins is an amateur botanist who worked for some years as an environmental consultant. He has been captivated by the charm of cacti and succulents from a young age. He has a casual, and, at other times, more serious scientific interest in the study of native and naturalised species, including weeds. He is also keenly interested in the preservation of rare and threatened native species in the wild and in the way our natural history has influenced the ways in which modern Australians perceive the plants around them. During his research for these papers, he consulted with specialists world-wide to gather the research presented here. It is hoped the papers may serve to increase public knowledge and awareness of this subject and to provoke a more well-reasoned discussion and debate. (Feb 2022)

UPDATE Feb 28: Since publication only days ago there has been considerable reaction/feedback. Some positive, a lot negative. While these three complex articles and papers can be of immeasurable interest and value to many, of course there are parts that are controversial. We host these articles and papers in the interest of science and research.

PART 1: The Great Prickly Pear Mystery Abstract: This paper is an examination of the history of the prickly pear infestation in Australia. Note: A few people have requested that the author comment on the more recent infestations of Cylindropuntia species around the opal and goldfields. The author wishes to advise that although he had considered including a chapter or two on the Cylindropuntia story, he felt that it was beyond the scope of this paper. He also felt that the story had already been aptly covered by other authors, for example: Chinnock, R. J., Feral opuntioid cacti in Australia: part I. cylindrical-stemmed genera: Austrocylindropuntia, Cylindropuntia and Corynopuntia. Kent Town: State Herbarium of South Australia, 2015, Octavo Press.

PART 2: A Reassessment of the Type of Opuntia stricta (Haw.) Haw. (2nd Edition) Abstract: The confusing history of the name Opuntia stricta is examined. A comparison of modern taxonomy with the lectotype and protologue reveals that the name has been misapplied as a consequence of erroneous synonymy with other species, in particular Opuntia dillenii. The natural distribution of O. stricta and O. dillenii are provided and a reassessment is proposed in light of the misapplied synonymy. A closer examination of O. dillenii reveals that the species is either highly variable or the name has been too loosely applied to a number of distinct yet superficially similar taxa. The need for a detailed investigation of the O. dillenii complex is recommended. The identities of expatriate, naturalized plants will depend on consistent morphological comparisons with potential genotypes in the Americas. Putative taxonomic keys that describe and differentiate naturalized specimens of Opuntia stricta (sensu stricto) and O. dillenii (sensu lato) in Australia are provided.

(There is also another article about a different aspect of Opuntias in the Australian landscape..... see article in left menu titled 'What are the REAL environmental weeds?')

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