Status of
            <i>Opuntia</i>
            invasions in the arid and semi-arid lands of Kenya.

Githae, Eunice W.

doi:10.1079/pavsnnr201813003

Cited by 18 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 33 publications

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“…Currently, cultivation trials and eradication programmes compete for resources in countries (e.g. Kenya (Githae, 2018); South Africa (Henderson & Wilson, 2017)) where the need for new solutions to energy are most acute, and biodiversity is an important natural resource.…”

Section: The Value Of De S Ert Succulentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Succulent plant diversity as natural capital

Grace

2019

Plants People Planet

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Societal Impact Statement Drought‐tolerant plants are increasingly recognized as a resource to mitigate the consequences of climate change. Succulent plants use stored water to sustain metabolism during regular droughts; succulence is a highly successful adaptation that has evolved in thousands of species throughout the plant kingdom. Desert (xeromorphic) succulent species are a potentially relevant resource to manage environments and energy supply in the hottest and driest places. However, many species are threatened with extinction or could become invasive outside their natural range. This review highlights research needed to develop desert succulents as a sustainable resource in a carbon economy. Summary Drought and increased temperature of the Earth's surface pose significant social and economic challenges under the anticipated effects of climate change. The presence of a reservoir of water to sustain metabolism under drought conditions is a conceptually simple, but remarkably complex, adaptation in the plant kingdom known broadly as succulence. The trait has arisen repeatedly among flowering plant lineages: thousands of succulent species representing immense taxonomic diversity are found on all continents except the polar regions. The phylogenetic diversity and ecological adaptations of desert‐adapted (xeromorphic) succulent plants could be particularly relevant resources to meet the challenges of environmental change, in applications as varied as bioenergy, urban greening, and high‐value products. However, a more complex picture is emerging in which xeromorphic succulents endemic to arid and semi‐arid regions could be at risk of extinction due to habitat loss and exploitation, while others could become invasive if introduced outside their natural range, thus compounding an existing problem of invasive succulent plant species. This review aims to summarize the state of current knowledge of xeromorphic succulent plants as a resource, draw attention to conservation concerns, and examine the potential for their unique traits to be harnessed in a climate change‐resilient world.

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Section: The Value Of De S Ert Succulentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Succulent plant diversity as natural capital

Grace

2019

Plants People Planet

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“…Opuntia species represent one such group of species affecting large areas where they have been introduced globally (Larsson, 2004). Morphological variation is a trait that is strongly associated with invasiveness through unintentional introduction through natural dispersal and transportation of habitat material from infested areas to new areas (Githae, 2018). However, in Asian countries, this invasiveness has been stated in terms of environmental values (Srivastava et al, 2014).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Morpho‐palynological and anatomical studies in desert cacti (Opuntia dillenii and Opuntia monacantha) using light and scanning electron microscopy

Majeed

Zafar

Ahmad

et al. 2022

Microscopy Res & Technique

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Opuntia is the most diverse and widely distributed drought resistant promising genus of family Cactaceae. The cladodes were utilized to quantify the chemical composition of these plants helpful in lignocellulose conversion and their application towards biofuel production. The present study was aimed to evaluate and compare the taxonomic relationship based on morphology, stem anatomy and palynology of important desert cacti including Opuntia dillenii and Opuntia monacantha. This study also evaluates the potential usefulness of morphological, anatomical and pollen traits using light and scanning electron microscopy. The obtained microcharacters of stem and flowers are considered diagnostic at the generic and specific levels. Some distinguishing morphological features observed were elliptical to obovate cladodes, 1-7 spines per areole and presence of glochidia in O. dillenii. Pollen and stem anatomical characters of the studied taxa are considered highly diagnostic at the generic and species levels. The epidermis has irregular and wavy cells, with straight to sinuate wall pattern and paracytic stomata. Pollen grains appear as pantoporate and prolate spheroidal having reticulate to perforate-reticulate sculpturing while exine semi-tectate to tectate. The taxonomic features studied could be valuable to elaborate and helpful in correctly identification of Opuntia species. The methods of diverse microscopic examination also providing sufficient evidence about the taxonomy of the Opuntia species. Research Highlights• Description and illustration of desert cacti Opuntia.• Morpho-anatomy and palynology were studied with LM and SEM.• Highly variation in taxonomic qualitative and quantitative features.• Systematic significance based on taxonomic characters was presented.

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“…1, 2). Reference to literature reveals that this species has been introduced and naturalized in Australia, Botswana, Namibia and South Africa (1-8), Balearic Islands, Galapagos Islands, Malta and Venezuela (9), Canary Islands, France, Italy, Portugal, Spain (8,(10)(11)(12)(13) and Kenya (14) and becoming increasingly problematic weed in almost all these areas (15).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%