Weeds of Australia - Fact Sheet

Top Scientific Name Synonyms Family Common Names Origin Naturalised Distribution Habit Distinguishing Features Stems and Leaves Flowers and Fruit Reproduction and Dispersal Environmental Impact Other Impacts Legislation Similar Species Notes

Scientific Name

Cylindropuntia rosea (DC.) Backeb. and and Cylindropuntia tunicata (Lehm.) F.M.Knuth

Synonyms

Cylindropuntia rosea (DC.) Backeb.: Cylindropuntia pallida (Rose) F.M. Knuth; Opuntia pallida Rose;Opuntia rosea DC.

Cylindropuntia tunicata (Lehm.) F.M.Knuth: Opuntia tunicata (Lehm.) Link & Otto var. tunicata; Cactus tunicatus Lehm.

Family

Cactaceae

Common Names

Hudson pear

Origin

Native to Mexico.

Naturalised Distribution

Naturalised in some inland regions of Australia, though not currently very widespread. It is locally common in some parts of northern New South Wales (i.e. around the opal mining areas of Lightning Ridge, Grawin and Glengarry and at Cumborah) and infestations have also been reported from Brewarrina, near Coonamble and near Goodooga. It is also present in the inland regions of southern Western Australia and possibly naturalised in South Australia.

Cylindropuntia tunicata is naturalised at 3 locations in Queensland.

Cylindropuntia rosea is also naturalised overseas in South Africa.

Habit

Densely branched cactus to 1.5m high and 3m wide

Distinguishing Features

Hudson pear (Cylindropuntia rosea and C. tunicata)

• cylindrical stem segments that break off easily
• spines to 6 cm long  white (C. rosea) or straw coloured (C. tunicata) 
• pink-purple flowers (C. rosea) or yellow green flowers (C. tunicata)
• fruit 2-5cm long, single (not in chains)

Stems and Leaves

Stem segments easily detach, whorled or subwhorled, to 90 cm long (C. rosea) or to 25 cm long (C. tunicata ), with 4-20 spines  per aerole. Spines are 3-6mm long, white in C. rosea and straw-coloured in C. tunicata.

Flowers and Fruit

Flowers pink or purple (C. rosea) or yellow to yellow-green (C. tunicata). Fruit are 25-50mm long, 8-15 mm wide, pulpy, tuberculate and with few spines.

Reproduction and Dispersal

The fruit are considered to be sterile. The plant is spread by segments.

Environmental Impact

Capable of causing serious injury to animals and humans.

Other Impacts

Spines can penetrate tyres and footwear

Legislation

Queensland: Class 1 - introduction into the state is prohibited, and landowners must take reasonable steps to keep land free of this species (throughout the entire state). It is also illegal to sell a declared plant or its seed in this state. This declaration applies to all species of Cylindropuntia except C. spinosior, C. fulgida and C. imbricata (all Class 2)

Similar Species

Expert identification is recommended. Both are declared Class 1 in Queensland.

Notes

Hudson pear (Cylindropuntia rosea or C. tunicata) is considered to be an environmental weed in New South Wales, and was recently listed as a priority environmental weed in one Natural Resource Management region. It is already a serious weed in parts of northern New South Wales, where estimates of the area infested range from 60 000 to 100 000 hectares.

This species does not produce seeds (i.e. it is sterile) and only spreads vegetatively by pieces of its stem segments, which root where they come into contact with the ground. Dense infestations can displace native flora and may impact on plant biodiversity in semi-arid communities. It also poses a threat to native fauna and the spiny nature of the plant has been reported to cause the deaths of native animals (e.g. koalas).

Cylindropuntia rosea is thought to be a hybrid between C. tunicata and another unkown parent.