Hudson pear
Cylindropuntia rosea
Biosecurity Queensland must be contacted within 24 hours of sighting, call: 13 25 23.
family
Cactaceae
origin
Exotic
declaration
Category 2, 3, 4, 5 Restricted Matter (Biosecurity Act 2014)
Cat 2 Must be reported to Biosecurity inspector or authorised person. Cat 3 Must not be distributed, Cat4 Must not be moved Cat 5 Must not be possessed or kept under your control.
Common names
Hudson pear.
Biosecurity Queensland must be notified within 24 hours Ph. 13 25 23, Hudson pear (Cylindropuntia rosea) is a short shrub (up to 1.5 m tall) with almost cylindrical (i.e. terete) stem segments that have numerous raised humps (up to 3 cm long) and are rope-like in appearance. These stem segments have groups of 4-8 large whitish-coloured spines (up to 4.5 cm long) on most of the small raised bumps (i.e. areoles) on their surfaces. Its flowers are reddish-pink or purplish in colour and its mature fruit are yellow.
Impact
Impact
Hudson pear (Cylindropuntia rosea) is a serious environmental 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). Hudson pear (Cylindropuntia rosea) is a potentially serious environmental weed in the drier parts of south-eastern Queensland.
Location
Location
Characteristics
Characteristics
Similar Species
Similar Species
Hudson pear (Cylindropuntia rosea) is a serious environmental 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). Hudson pear (Cylindropuntia rosea) is a potentially serious environmental weed in the drier parts of south-eastern Queensland.
