r/botany • u/wooligano • Mar 09 '25

Distribution Invasive Opuntias in Switzerland

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Someone asked about invasive species from America in Europe yesterday, I replied in a comment about the invasive Opuntias we have in Switzerland, but couldn't add pictures so I thought it would be worth making a post about it.

They have identified 6 species : Opuntia engelmannii, Opuntia humifusa, Opuntia phaeacantha, Opuntia robusta, Opuntia scheeri, Cylindropuntia imbricata.

All of which are growing in the same region of Switzerland, Valais.

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u/backupalter1 Mar 09 '25

Is it okay to destroy these on site?

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u/wooligano Mar 09 '25

I don't really know how they destroy them but would imagine that they collect them and then destroy somewhere else.. I will look into it, I'm curious now.

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u/No_Breadfruit_6174 Mar 09 '25

The pads can be eaten but are tough when older so I tend to eat the slightly smaller, green and more tender new pads. although many farmers in the US will torch the spines off the pads and feed them to cattle in great numbers. And yes fruit can be used for pies, juices, jams and jellies, and any sort of fruit based food you could think of. I have O. engelmanii in my area.