Characteristics and distribution of the &lt;i&gt;Opuntia&lt;/i&gt; (Cactaceae) representatives naturalized in Crimea
Journal: PROCEEDINGS ON APPLIED BOTANY GENETICS AND BREEDING
Year: 2022

Background . Representatives of the Opuntia Mill. genus (Cactaceae), growing in natural habitats in South and North Americas, Mexico, Western India, and the Galapagos Islands, are widely used as ornamental, food and medicinal plants in different regions of the world. Many species have naturalized, and at least 27 species (or 14%) are invasive plants, thus posing a threat to local species and plant diversity. The largest numbers of naturalized species were observed in Spain, South Africa, and Aus