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Floristic Inventory of the Florida Keys Database Online

Opuntia cochenillifera (L.) Mill.
Cochineal cactus

Opuntia cochenillifera
Copyright by: Keith A. Bradley

Family: Cactaceae

Group: Dicot

Substrate: Terrestrial

Habit: Tree

Perennation: Perennial

Native Range: Probably native to Mexico, but its origins ared obscured through widespread cultivation.

Map of select IRC data for peninsular Florida

SOUTH FLORIDA Occurrence: Present

SOUTH FLORIDA Native Status: Not Native, Cultivated Only

SOUTH FLORIDA Cultivated Status: Cultivated

Comments: For more images, click on the USDA PLANTS and Atlas of Florida Vascular Plants links below.

FLORIDA KEYS Occurrence: Present

FLORIDA KEYS Native Status: Not Native, Cultivated Only

Map of select IRC data for the Florida Keys

Florida Keys History and Distribution: Not reported for the Florida Keys by John Kunkel Small in 1913. Cultivated from the upper Keys to the lower Keys.

Other data on Opuntia cochenillifera available from :

Atlas of Florida Vascular Plants

Opuntia cochenillifera has been reported from the following 10 conservation areas in the FLORIDA KEYS :
Occurrence Native Status
Bahia Honda State Park Present Not Native, Cultivated Only
Biscayne National Park, Florida Keys Section Present Not Native, Cultivated Only
Blue Heron Hammock, Florida Keys Wildlife and Environmental Area Present Not Native, Cultivated Only
Crocodile Lake National Wildlife Refuge Present Not Native, Cultivated Only
Dagny Johnson Key Largo Hammocks Botanical State Park Present Not Native, Cultivated Only
Dove Creek Hammocks, Florida Keys Wildlife and Environmental Area Present Not Native, Cultivated Only
Lake San Pedro Hammocks, Florida Keys Wildlife and Environmental Area Present Not Native, Cultivated Only
Ramrod Hammocks, Florida Keys Wildlife and Environmental Area Present Not Native, Cultivated Only
Snake Creek Hammocks, Florida Keys Wildlife and Environmental Area Present Not Native, Cultivated Only
Spoonbill Sound Hammocks, Florida Keys Wildlife and Environmental Area Present Not Native, Cultivated Only






All Images:

Opuntia cochenillifera
Copyright by: Keith A. Bradley