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Field Guide for Managing Prickly Pear in the Southwest

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Field Guide for Managing Prickly Pear in the Southwest United States Department of Agriculture Field Guide for Managing Prickly Pear in the Southwest Forest Southwestern Service Region TP-R3-16-28 Revised June 2017 Cover Photos Top left: USDI NPS Right: USDI NPS Lower left: Mary Ellen (Mel) Harte, Bugwood.org In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity (including gender expression), sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the responsible Agency or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English. To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html and at any USDA office or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by: (1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; (2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or (3) email: [email protected]. USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender. Printed on recycled paper Prickly pear (Opuntia species) Cactus family (Cactaceae) Although none of the potentially weedy Opuntia species rounded in shape; Plains prickly pear (O. are included on noxious weed lists of States associated polyacantha) pad may grow to 6 inches long; Texas with the U.S. Forest Service’s Southwestern Region, prickly pear (O. lindheimerii) pads are 8–12 inches jointed prickly pear (O. aurantiaca) is on the Federal long and Engelmann prickly pear (O. phaecantha noxious weed list. This field guide serves as the Forest var. discata) pads grow 8–16 inches long; pads are Service’s recommendations for management of prickly typically less than 1 inch thick in all species. pear in woodlands and rangelands associated with its • Leaves are reduced to spines up to 2.5 inches long; Southwestern Region. The Southwestern Region covers although variable, typically 7–10 spines emerge Arizona and New Mexico, which together have 11 national from each areole; areoles are white to yellowish- forests. The Region also administers 4 national grasslands brown circular bud zones, 1.5 inches apart and may in northeastern New Mexico, western Oklahoma, and the completely cover the pads. Each areole may also Texas panhandle. contain tiny, fine barbed spines called glochids that easily adhere to humans or animals causing skin Description irritation. Prickly pear (synonyms: nopal, tuna prickly-pear, Indian • Solitary, showy yellow, pink, or red flowers, approx. fig, jointed cactus, tiger pear) is a common name often 1–2 inches across occur along the apex or edge of given to the numerous species in the Opuntia genus and is pads. Blooms late spring to early summer. sometimes given to cacti from other genera as well. Certain • Fruit are dehiscent (i.e., natural bursting open of a species are native to the Southwest, while others have been fruit at maturity to release seed), barrel to pear- introduced from Central America and the West Indies. shaped fleshy berries to 1.5 inches long, usually Prickly pear’s appearance (including growth form, flower below the bloom; glochids may be present or not. color, pad shape, number of spines, and other Fruit color ranges from yellow-green to magenta or characteristics) is sensitive to environmental change, thus purple in late summer. contributing to the description of numerous varieties and • Reproduces vegetatively via cloning and seed; seeds nearly 60 different species. Regardless of native or are orbicular, flattened, approximately 1/8" long. nonnative status, these cacti share a common mode of spread whereby clones from detached pads are able to root Ecology and form new colonies. Cross-species reproduction is also Impacts/Threats common, and hybridization between species can make Grazing areas have reduced accessibility and forage identification difficult at times. availability where prickly pear forms into large colonies Growth Characteristics and dense populations. In severe drought conditions, • Perennial, cool-season cactus; may be shrubby and livestock and wildlife often develop scouring and bloat grow to 12 feet tall, forming clumps up to 4 feet when forced to eat the pads and fruit. Sharp protective wide; certain species are tree forming and may grow spines and glochids cause discomfort to the animal’s eyes, to be 100 feet tall. skin, and mouth areas. Some wildlife such as quail, javelina, small rodents, and birds take advantage of prickly • Shallow, wide-spreading fibrous roots. pear, especially for cover. However, excessive presence of • Broad, flat green to grey-green, waxy succulent prickly pear degrades wildlife habitat, reduces flora and stem segments (also called joints or pads) oval to fauna species diversity, and decreases land value. 1 Site/Distribution • Check hay and straw for presence of plant Prickly pear prefers dry, well-drained, gravelly to sandy fragments or seed before using them in areas soils. Ideal growth conditions occur in areas with high without prickly pear; certified weed-free hay or sunlight and warm temperatures, such as those found on pellets should be fed to horses in the back country. south-facing slopes and rocky outcrops. • Detect, map, and eradicate new populations of Spread prickly pear as early as possible. Keep annual records of reported infestations. Vegetative reproduction from detached pads is the most common method by which prickly pear is spread. Hard • Implement monitoring and a follow-up treatment rains, high winds, or passing animals may cause stem plan for missed plants and seedlings. segments (pads) to break off, whereby each segment can Table 1 summarizes some management options for root and propagate a new plant. Prickly pear seed and pads controlling prickly pear under various situations. Further are spread over long distances when (1) washed away in details on these management options are explained below. waterways or during floods; (2) carried on surfaces and Choice of method(s) taken for prickly pear control undercarriages of road vehicles and road maintenance depends on numerous factors including the current land equipment; or (3) attached to animal fur. The fruit is use and site condition; accessibility, terrain, microclimate; readily consumed, and seed is moved in the droppings of extent and density of infestations; and non-target flora and large animals, which can then be dispersed widely by fauna present, etc. Other considerations include treatment beetles, ants, and other insects. New plants may be started effectiveness, cost, and the number of years needed to during any month of the year. achieve control. More than one control method may be Invasive Features needed for each site. Prickly pear is superbly adapted to arid and semiarid landscapes. It has the ability to fix carbon dioxide at night Physical Control and close its pores (or stomata) during the day. Waxy Since prickly pear reproduces both vegetatively and via coating on stems allows it to tolerate a wide range of seed, care must be taken with cacti debris when physical temperatures and to thrive in water limited environments. methods are employed. Any cacti pads remaining in The wide-spreading, fibrous root system of prickly pear contact with soil will likely root and grow into new allows access to surface water, and its succulent stems plants. Therefore, methods that completely remove or store large quantities of water. During drought years, severely desiccate and dry out the stems (pads) are prickly pear usually spreads more readily than grasses, especially effective. especially under hot, dry conditions. Manual Methods Grubbing or digging up prickly pear is an effective Management management option for small, isolated populations. Cut Prickly pear can be both a nuisance and a valued plant. the main root of prickly pear about 2 to 4 inches below the Persistence and a long-term commitment is a must for soil surface with a grubbing hoe or shovel. If a hydraulic prickly pear control. Unmanaged, smaller populations may or hand grubber is used, do so during hot, dry conditions quickly expand and become more difficult to eradicate if for maximum stress to the plant; pile plant debris and burn early control measures are not taken. The following or bag and completely remove from the site. actions should be considered when planning an overall Prickly pear spines can cause injury, and the fine glochids management approach: will irritate the skin. Therefore, protective clothing (long • Healthy plant communities should be maintained to pants, long-sleeved shirts, and leather gloves) should be limit prickly pear infestations. worn when working in cacti areas. Manual methods may 2 Table 1. Management options* Site Physical Control Cultural Control Biological Control Chemical Control Roadsides, Remove aboveground growth Use seed, mulch, and fill None available. For individual plant fence lines, by scraping pads close to the materials certified to be weed- treatment, use backpack or non-crop ground. Combine with follow- free. sprayers or ATV-mounted areas up individual plant treatment spraying equipment.
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