Contribution to the knowledge of naturalised Opuntia species (Cactaceae) in the Bulgarian flora

• Autores: Tsvetelina Naydenova, Vladimir Vladimirov, Svetlana Bancheva
• Localización: Phytologia Balcanica: International Journal of Balkan Flora and Vegetation, ISSN 1310-7771, Vol. 25, Nº. 1, 2019, págs. 39-46
• Idioma: inglés
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• Resumen

  • Three alien species of Opuntia (Cactaceae) have been studied in a locality in Mt Lozenska, Mt Sredna Gora (Western) floristic region in Bulgaria. One of the species – O. humifusa, has already been reported for the area, whereas the other two species – O. engelmannii and O. fragilis are reported here for the first time for the Bulgarian flora. Most likely, the species were initially deliberately planted in the area but later adapted well, spread further, and now dominate the local vegetation. The three species propagate easily by vegetative means, since numerous recently rooted stem segments have been found in the locality. Moreover, reproduction by seeds has been observed in O. engelmannii and O. humifusa. The species are represented by self-sustaining and enlarging populations, and hence they have to be considered naturalised and locally invasive. Concise morphological description based on the studied occurrences of O. engelmannii and O.

    fragilis, as well as some data about the habitat and populations are provided. The text is amply illustrated with photos from the locality