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Opuntia abjecta Small ex Britton & Rose
Jumping cactus

Opuntia abjecta
Copyright by: Keith A. Bradley

Family: Cactaceae

Group: Dicot

Substrate: Terrestrial

Habit: Shrub

Perennation: Perennial

Native Range: Endemic to South Florida in the middle and lower Florida Keys.

Map of Florida Locations

State of Florida Status: Endangered

Florida Natural Areas Inventory State Status: Critically Imperiled

IRC SOUTH FLORIDA Status: Critically Imperiled

SOUTH FLORIDA Occurrence: Present

SOUTH FLORIDA Native Status: Native

South Florida History and Distribution: Ranked as critically imperiled in Rare Plants of South Florida (Gann et al. 2002; pp 284-286) based on several extant occurrences in the Monroe County Keys, including at two conservation areas: Long Key State Park, National Key Deer Refuge. It is also known from several private properties in the area.

SOUTH FLORIDA Cultivated Status: Cultivated

Comments: For a recent taxonomic assessment of O. abjecta and O. triacantha in South Florida, see Majure et al. 2014.

Synonyms: O. triacanthos, misapplied; O. triacantha is an orthographic variant.

Other data on Opuntia abjecta available from :

Opuntia abjecta has been found in the following 2 conservation areas :
Occurrence Native Status
Long Key State Park Present Native
National Key Deer Refuge Present Native

Opuntia abjecta has been found in the following county :
Occurrence Native Status
Monroe County (Keys) Native

Opuntia abjecta has been found in the following habitat :
Keys Cactus Barren

All Images:

Opuntia abjecta
Copyright by: Keith A. Bradley
Opuntia abjecta
Copyright by: Cody-Marie Miller
Big Pine Key, Florida, 2014
Opuntia abjecta
Copyright by: Cody-Marie Miller
Big Pine Key, Florida, 2014
Opuntia abjecta
Copyright by: Keith A. Bradley
Opuntia abjecta
Copyright by: Keith A. Bradley
Opuntia abjecta
Copyright by: Keith A. Bradley
Opuntia abjecta
Copyright by: Roger L. Hammer