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You are here: Home / Characteristics / Conservation Plant Characteristics for Opuntia ficus-indica Printer-Friendly Printer-Friendly / Download
Characteristics

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Conservation Plant Characteristics

Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Mill.
Barbary fig
OPFI

Summary
Duration Perennial
Growth Habit Tree, Shrub
Native Status L48 (I), HI (I), PR (I)
Federal T/E Status
National Wetland Indicator
 
Morphology/Physiology
Active Growth Period Summer
After Harvest Regrowth Rate Slow
Bloat None
C:N Ratio Low
Coppice Potential No
Fall Conspicuous No
Fire Resistant No
Flower Color Red
Flower Conspicuous Yes
Foliage Color Green
Foliage Porosity Summer Porous
Foliage Porosity Winter Porous
Foliage Texture Coarse
Fruit/Seed Color
Fruit/Seed Conspicuous Yes
Growth Form Multiple Stem
Growth Rate Slow
Height at 20 Years, Maximum (feet) 10
Height, Mature (feet) 10
Known Allelopath No
Leaf Retention Yes
Lifespan Moderate
Low Growing Grass No
Nitrogen Fixation
Resprout Ability No
Shape and Orientation Irregular
Toxicity None
 
Growth Requirements
Adapted to Coarse Textured Soils Yes
Adapted to Fine Textured Soils Yes
Adapted to Medium Textured Soils Yes
Anaerobic Tolerance None
CaCO3 Tolerance High
Cold Stratification Required Yes
Drought Tolerance High
Fertility Requirement Low
Fire Tolerance None
Frost Free Days, Minimum 200
Hedge Tolerance High
Moisture Use Low
pH, Minimum 7
pH, Maximum 8.5
Planting Density per Acre, Minimum 20
Planting Density per Acre, Maximum 700
Precipitation, Minimum 8
Precipitation, Maximum 15
Root Depth, Minimum (inches) 6
Salinity Tolerance Low
Shade Tolerance Intolerant
Temperature, Minimum (°F) -3
 
Reproduction
Bloom Period Mid Summer
Commercial Availability Routinely Available
Fruit/Seed Abundance High
Fruit/Seed Period Begin Summer
Fruit/Seed Period End Fall
Fruit/Seed Persistence Yes
Propagated by Bare Root Yes
Propagated by Bulb No
Propagated by Container Yes
Propagated by Corm No
Propagated by Cuttings Yes
Propagated by Seed Yes
Propagated by Sod No
Propagated by Sprigs No
Propagated by Tubers No
Seed per Pound 200000
Seed Spread Rate Rapid
Seedling Vigor Medium
Small Grain No
Vegetative Spread Rate None
 
Suitability/Use
Berry/Nut/Seed Product Yes
Christmas Tree Product No
Fodder Product Yes
Fuelwood Product None
Lumber Product No
Naval Store Product No
Nursery Stock Product Yes
Palatable Browse Animal Low
Palatable Graze Animal Low
Palatable Human Yes
Post Product No
Protein Potential Low
Pulpwood Product No
Veneer Product No
 
 
Time Generated: 09/24/2008 04:52 AM MDT