Prickly pears - Austrocylindropuntias (Austrocylindropuntia species)
Prickly pears in the Austrocylindropuntia genus originate from South America, and are large succulent members of the opuntioid cacti group. Along with their relatives in the Opuntia and Cylindropuntia genera, they have been declared Weeds of National Significance in Australia.
Profile
How does this weed affect you?
Prickly pears in the Austrocylindropuntia genus originate from South America, and are large succulent members of the opuntioid cacti group. Austrocylindropuntia species differ from Cylindropuntia species in that they lack papery sheaths on their spines.
Austrocylindropuntia have spines which can:
- injure people, livestock, working dogs and pets
- get stuck around the mouth of lambs or calves and stop them from feeding
- injure and sometimes kill wildlife that gets trapped in the spines
- devalue wool and hides
- prevent shearing.
Dense thickets of cacti restrict the movement of animals and people, so that:
- livestock cannot move to areas with better pasture
- mustering is difficult
- access to watering points is reduced
- recreation such as bushwalking or bird watching is restricted.
Cacti damage natural environments by excluding native plants. They also harbour pests including foxes, rabbits and fruit fly.
What does it look like?
Austrocylindropuntias have cylindrical stems with with raised tubercles (prominent oval-shaped bumps).
The leaves are fleshy, cylindrical and elongagted.
The areoles are elongated and filled with white woolly hairs and 3 or more spines. Though sometimes spines are absent on cultivated plants. Glochids (tiny barbed bristles) are present in the aeroles but very small.
See descriptions of individual species for Eve's needle cactus and cane cactus.
More information
Control
Successful weed control relies on follow up after the initial efforts. This means looking for and killing regrowth or new seedlings. Using a combination of control methods is usually more successful.
Wear protective clothing, including gloves, boots, thick clothing and eyewear to stop injuries from spines.
Prevention
Stop the spread of cane cactus into new areas by checking clothing, vehicles and equipment for plant parts before leaving an area.
Physical removal
By hand
Seedlings and small plants can be dug out using a hoe or mattock. Take care to remove the whole plant and collect any parts that have fallen off.
Dispose of all plant parts to prevent regrowth or spread by:
- burying with at least 1 m of soil over the top of plants
- burning in a hot fire
- or contacting your local council for landfill options.
Check burn and burial sites regularly for 5 years to ensure there is no regrowth. If you move cactus ensure that it is contained when transporting it to the disposal site.
Biological Control
There are no biological control agents available for Austrocylindtopuntia species.
Chemical control
Spot spray actively growing plants and thoroughly cover the plants. A spray oil will make the herbicide more effective. Re-treatment may be necessary, particularly with large clumps.
See individual species profiles for specific herbicide details.
Herbicide options
Contact your local council weeds officer for control advice for Prickly pears - Austrocylindropuntias (Austrocylindropuntia species).
Biosecurity duty
The content provided here is for information purposes only and is taken from the NSW Biosecurity Act 2015 and its subordinate legislation, and the Regional Strategic Weed Management Plans (published by each Local Land Services region in NSW). It describes the state and regional priorities for weeds in New South Wales, Australia.
| Area | Duty |
|---|---|
| All of NSW | General Biosecurity Duty All pest plants are regulated with a general biosecurity duty to prevent, eliminate or minimise any biosecurity risk they may pose. Any person who deals with any plant, who knows (or ought to know) of any biosecurity risk, has a duty to ensure the risk is prevented, eliminated or minimised, so far as is reasonably practicable. |
| All of NSW |
Prohibition on certain dealings
Must not be imported into the state, sold, bartered, exchanged or offered for sale. All species in the Austrocylindropuntia genus have this requirement |
| Hunter |
Regional Recommended Measure
* (for Regional Priority - Prevention)
Land managers should mitigate the risk of the plant being introduced to their land. Land managers should eradicate the plant from the land and keep the land free of the plant. A person should not deal with the plant, where dealings include but are not limited to buying, selling, growing, moving, carrying or releasing the plant. Notify local control authority if found. |
| Murray |
Regional Recommended Measure
* (for Regional Priority - Prevention)
Land managers should mitigate the risk of the plant being introduced to their land. Land managers should eradicate the plant from the land and keep the land free of the plant. A person should not deal with the plant, where dealings include but are not limited to buying, selling, growing, moving, carrying or releasing the plant. Notify local control authority if found. |
| *To see the Regional Strategic Weeds Management Plans containing demonstrated outcomes that fulfil the general biosecurity duty for this weed click here |
Reviewed 2023
