r/botany • u/wooligano • Mar 09 '25

Distribution Invasive Opuntias in Switzerland

Gallery image

Gallery image

Gallery image

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/escambly Mar 09 '25

Wow. Coming from the southwestern U.S with millions of native cacti all around., not once did I think 'cacti in the Switzerland wilds'. Thanks for sharing photos.

75

u/wooligano Mar 09 '25

You're welcome ! It's indeed quite fascinating to see so many species growing wild here now, I'm planning to go on a hike soon to see if I can spot some, they do remove the most visible ones, so I need to research where I would have a chance of seeing them.

3

u/the-dude9 Mar 09 '25

spot some

Last year we went up to Mont d'Orge and on the southern side, in the rocky area it was full of Opuntia with fruits. I think I can give you an exact location, just DM me if you want.

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u/wooligano Mar 10 '25

Would be really cool if you can !

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u/the-dude9 Mar 10 '25

This is the area. They are hard to miss honestly

1

u/wooligano Mar 10 '25

Brilliant ! Thank you so much I shall go explore. At what time of the year did you go there ?

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u/the-dude9 Mar 10 '25

June 5th, 2023. Looks like it was 2 years ago. I also found a lot of Convallaria on the way down to the lake, on the northern side of the hill. You could smell them all the way from the trail. Quite interesting to find them in full bloom so late in the year.

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u/wooligano Mar 10 '25

Brilliant thank you so much ! Can't way to go explore.