Opuntia aurantiaca

Opuntia aurantiaca, commonly known as tiger-pear, jointed cactus or jointed prickly-pear, is a species of cactus from South America.^[2] The species occurs naturally in Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay and is considered an invasive species in Africa and Australia.^[2]

Opuntia aurantiaca
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Order:	Caryophyllales
Family:	Cactaceae
Genus:	Opuntia
Species:	O. aurantiaca
Binomial name
Opuntia aurantiaca Lindl.[2]

Description

Opuntia aurantiaca rarely exceeds 0.5 m in height (may reach 2 m with standing support). Plants consist of up to 100 or more cladodes from 5 to 20 cm long and 1 to 3 cm wide.^[3]

Distribution and Habitat

This species' native is to Argentina (Buenos Aires and Entre Rios), Uruguay and Paraguay.^[3]

Invasive Species

It was declared a Weed of National Significance by the Australian Weeds Committee in April 2012, and was reported by the Committee to be the most troublesome of all cactus species in New South Wales and the worst Opuntia species in Queensland. It is currently controlled biologically in Australia using the cochineal insect Dactylopius austrinus, and to a lesser extent by the larvae of two moths, Cactoblastis cactorum and Tucumania tapiacola.^[3]

See also

• Prickly pears in Australia