Common name: Tiger Pear
Opuntia aurantiaca Lindl. APNI*
Description: Low-growing plant with ± prostrate stems. Segments mostly 2–4 cm wide, 4–10 cm long, ultimate segments usually compressed, sometimes rounded under moist conditions, stems ± terete.
Leaves 3–4 mm long, falling early. Areoles filled with short white hair-like spines; larger spines 1–4, each mostly 1–3 cm long.
Flowers 2–5 cm diam., yellow.
Fruit ovoid, 2–3 cm long, green to red diffused with purple. Propagates from segments and fruit that are detached and spread by animals and water.
Distribution and occurrence: In pest proportions in localized areas of N.S.W. Native of Uruguay.
NSW subdivisions: *NC, *CC, *SC, *NT, *CT, *NWS, *CWS, *SWS, *NWP, *SWP
Other Australian states: *Qld *Vic.
Text by G. J. Harden Taxon concept: Flora of NSW 1 (1990)
APNI* Provides a link to the Australian Plant Name Index (hosted by the Australian National Botanic Gardens) for comprehensive bibliographic data ***The AVH map option provides a detailed interactive Australia wide distribution map drawn from collections held by all major Australian herbaria participating in the Australian Virtual Herbarium project.
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