{"assessment":{"band":"Not native","fit_score":null,"native_basis":"not_native","rarity_adjustment":null,"rarity_policy":"Conservation status is displayed separately and never changes ecological scores, including when unranked.","reason":"Reported non-native to Alabama.","reference":"NC native reference cohort, method 0.6.4; not a Alabama percentile","score":null,"scoring_inputs":{"harm_penalty":0,"invasive":false,"invasive_rank":null,"native":false,"state_rank":""},"status":"not_native","version":"shared-0.6.5"},"condition_evidence":{"light":{"evidence_id":"fact:7d5d2a713d3efe23a877dbb315e3054e180388ee74c35c8cb9769b9d5f4263c6","levels":[4],"policy":"selected-condition-categories-2","range":[4,4],"scope":{"kind":"region","region_id":"floraquest_nc_sc_ga"},"semantics":"documented_native_habitat_conditions","source_field":"habitat_light_categories","source_label":"Weakley, Flora of the Southeastern United States (2025), Carolinas & Georgia edition","source_url":"https://fsus.ncbg.unc.edu/","status":"mapped_selected_fact"},"moisture":{"evidence_id":"fact:187d7dfd4d4e4c71626ee263fceb2a4135c97c5de3981fe0bab92018b522178c","levels":[0,3],"policy":"selected-condition-categories-2","range":[0,3],"scope":{"kind":"region","region_id":"floraquest_nc_sc_ga"},"semantics":"documented_native_habitat_conditions","source_field":"habitat_moisture_categories","source_label":"Weakley, Flora of the Southeastern United States (2025), Carolinas & Georgia edition","source_url":"https://fsus.ncbg.unc.edu/","status":"mapped_selected_fact"}},"evidence":{"fit_score":null,"growth_habit":null,"invasive_status":{"status":"unresolved"},"native_status":{"status":"not_native"},"occurrence":{"county_fips":["01001","01091","01101","01125"],"meaning":"Recorded occurrence; not a county native-range assertion"},"quercus_score":null,"regional":{"county_fips":["01001","01091","01101","01125"],"growth_habit":null,"growth_habit_source":null,"invasive":null,"invasive_evidence":[],"invasive_rank":null,"native":false,"native_basis":"state_source","native_decided_by":"al_atlas","native_evidence":[{"claim":"introduced","flag":"N","matched_name":"Opuntia lindheimeri","scope":"AL","source":"al_atlas","url":"https://dev.alabama.plantatlas.usf.edu/plant/species/5390"},{"claim":"native","matched_name":"Opuntia lindheimeri","scope":"L48","source":"usda","text":"L48:N","url":"https://plants.usda.gov/"},{"basis":"species account without the alien asterisk","claim":"native_distribution","matched_name":"Opuntia lindheimeri","scope":"AL-AR-DC-DE-FL-GA-KY-LA-MD-MS-NC-NJ-PA-SC-TN-VA-WV","source":"weakley_fsus","url":"https://fsus.ncbg.unc.edu/"},{"basis":"Native field of the South Central edition; the state is in its distribution","claim":"introduced","record_id":7005,"scope":"AL-MS-TN","source":"floraquest_south_central","url":"https://fsus.ncbg.unc.edu/"}],"native_explanation":"Alabama Plant Atlas (published flora, state claim) gives the value, over a broader claim from a higher tier.","native_provenance":{"flags":["over_higher_tier"],"source":"al_atlas","specificity":"state","tier":"published_flora"},"native_status":"not_native","package_native_status":"not_native","source_ids":["al_atlas:AL:5390"],"source_name":"Opuntia lindheimeri","source_refs":["al_atlas"],"source_url":"https://dev.alabama.plantatlas.usf.edu/plant/species/5390","state_rank":null},"source_refs":["al_atlas"],"source_url":"https://dev.alabama.plantatlas.usf.edu/plant/species/5390","state_rank":{"value":null}},"fit_inputs":{"light":[4,4],"moisture":[0,3],"ph":null},"fit_provenance":{"light":"Weakley, Flora of the Southeastern United States (2025), Carolinas & Georgia edition","moisture":"Weakley, Flora of the Southeastern United States (2025), Carolinas & Georgia edition"},"fit_record":{"band":"Not native","condition_evidence":{"light":{"evidence_id":"fact:7d5d2a713d3efe23a877dbb315e3054e180388ee74c35c8cb9769b9d5f4263c6","levels":[4],"policy":"selected-condition-categories-2","range":[4,4],"scope":{"kind":"region","region_id":"floraquest_nc_sc_ga"},"semantics":"documented_native_habitat_conditions","source_field":"habitat_light_categories","source_label":"Weakley, Flora of the Southeastern United States (2025), Carolinas & Georgia edition","source_url":"https://fsus.ncbg.unc.edu/","status":"mapped_selected_fact"},"moisture":{"evidence_id":"fact:187d7dfd4d4e4c71626ee263fceb2a4135c97c5de3981fe0bab92018b522178c","levels":[0,3],"policy":"selected-condition-categories-2","range":[0,3],"scope":{"kind":"region","region_id":"floraquest_nc_sc_ga"},"semantics":"documented_native_habitat_conditions","source_field":"habitat_moisture_categories","source_label":"Weakley, Flora of the Southeastern United States (2025), Carolinas & Georgia edition","source_url":"https://fsus.ncbg.unc.edu/","status":"mapped_selected_fact"}},"county_fips":["01001","01091","01101","01125"],"fit_inputs":{"light":[4,4],"moisture":[0,3],"ph":null},"fit_note":"Shared sunlight, moisture and pH calculation; county geography is an additional layer. Missing source traits remain unknown.","fit_provenance":{"light":"Weakley, Flora of the Southeastern United States (2025), Carolinas & Georgia edition","moisture":"Weakley, Flora of the Southeastern United States (2025), Carolinas & Georgia edition"},"garden_suitability":{"default_excluded":false,"flags":[],"review_status":"not_assessed","suggestions_excluded":false},"invasive_rank":false,"native_eligible":false,"quercus_score":null,"state":"AL"},"garden_suitability":{"default_excluded":false,"flags":[],"review_status":"not_assessed","suggestions_excluded":false},"growing_observations":{"floraquest_carolinas_georgia":{"matched_name":"Opuntia lindheimeri","retrieved":"2026-10-04T13:31:16.252589+00:00","scope":{"kind":"region","region_id":"floraquest_nc_sc_ga"},"scope_note":"Original regional ecological and identification evidence; no location-specific gardening adjustments.","source_label":"Weakley, Flora of the Southeastern United States (2025), Carolinas & Georgia edition","source_name":"Opuntia lindheimeri","source_record_id":7005,"source_sha256":"684f6b364ff9f3023aa61ed02ae50f6f6d6d4d3bcf76847b78ab769ae0453469","source_url":"https://fsus.ncbg.unc.edu/","trait_evidence":[{"field":"habitat_description","source_column":"HabitatText","source_database_sha256":"684f6b364ff9f3023aa61ed02ae50f6f6d6d4d3bcf76847b78ab769ae0453469","source_record_id":7005,"source_table":"Organism","value":"Disturbed areas, where persistent or spreading from cultivation (Majure et al. 2011), but also apparently early introduced by native Americans or early settlers on coastal dunes and sand barrens on barrier islands."},{"field":"geographic_range_description","source_column":"Description","source_database_sha256":"684f6b364ff9f3023aa61ed02ae50f6f6d6d4d3bcf76847b78ab769ae0453469","source_record_id":7005,"source_table":"Organism","value":"Native of sc. United States south into Mexico. Although found along the coast in North Carolina (New Hanover Co., where it grows with O. drummondii ), South Carolina, and Virginia (Henrico, Isle of Wight, and Hanover cos. [Wright et al. 2023]), the origin(s) of those populations is unknown. The native range of O. engelmannii var. lindheimeri is the western US (although occurring in coastal w Louisiana) and Mexico, so it seems unlikely that the coastal Atlantic populations are native; however, certain populations along the South Carolina coast can be found in quite isolated locations (P. McMillan, pers. comm.). Small (1933) reported O. cantabrigiensis Lynch from dunes near Beaufort, North Carolina, based on a fragmentary 1930 collection accompanied by a photograph. Similar plants were apparently seen near Beaufort by Engelmann, prior to 1856. Benson (1982) refers the collection tentatively to O. lindheimeri Engelmann var. cuija (Griffiths & Hare) L.D. Benson, treated in K as O. engelmannii Salm-Dyck ex Engelmann var. cuija Griffiths & Hare, a native of Mexico. Benson (1982) also stated, however, that it could also be var. lindheimeri (primarily of Texas and Mexico), or, indeed, O. tuna (Linnaeus) P. Miller (native to the West Indies). Benson (1982) failed to relocate the plant in the field in 1956, but stated there was \"insufficient time for a thorough search.\" Unless relocated, the identity of the plant will probably remain a mystery, as well as whether it represents a native species, an established population from aboriginal use, or a more recent introduction or adventive."},{"field":"phenology_source_text","source_column":"Phenology","source_database_sha256":"684f6b364ff9f3023aa61ed02ae50f6f6d6d4d3bcf76847b78ab769ae0453469","source_record_id":7005,"source_table":"Organism","value":"May-Jun; Aug-Nov (-Feb)."},{"field":"taxonomic_synonymy","source_column":"Synonymy","source_database_sha256":"684f6b364ff9f3023aa61ed02ae50f6f6d6d4d3bcf76847b78ab769ae0453469","source_record_id":7005,"source_table":"Organism","value":"[= GrPl, K4, S13; = n/a — C, RAB; = Opuntia engelmannii Salm-Dyck ex Engelm. var. lindheimeri (Engelm.) B.D.Parfitt & Pinkava — FNA4, NcTx, NS, POWO, Tx; > Opuntia cantabrigiensis Lynch — S; Opuntia engelmannii Salm-Dyck ex Engelm. — Mex; > Opuntia engelmannii Salm-Dyck ex Engelm. var. cacanapa (Griffiths) Weniger — Weniger (1984); > Opuntia engelmannii Salm-Dyck ex Engelm. var. texana (Griffiths) Weniger — Weniger (1984); > Opuntia engemannii var. alta (Griffiths) Weniger — Weniger (1984); > Opuntia lindheimeri Engelmann — S; > Opuntia tardospina Griffiths — Weniger (1984)]"},{"field":"heliophily_index","source_column":"HIndex","source_database_sha256":"684f6b364ff9f3023aa61ed02ae50f6f6d6d4d3bcf76847b78ab769ae0453469","source_record_id":7005,"source_table":"Organism","value":9},{"field":"habitat_moisture_categories","source_column":"Attr2","source_database_sha256":"684f6b364ff9f3023aa61ed02ae50f6f6d6d4d3bcf76847b78ab769ae0453469","source_record_id":7005,"source_table":"GraphicKey","value":["Dry","Moist"]},{"field":"habitat_light_categories","source_column":"Attr3","source_database_sha256":"684f6b364ff9f3023aa61ed02ae50f6f6d6d4d3bcf76847b78ab769ae0453469","source_record_id":7005,"source_table":"GraphicKey","value":["Full sun"]},{"field":"graphic_key_source_attributes","source_column":"Attr0..25","source_database_sha256":"684f6b364ff9f3023aa61ed02ae50f6f6d6d4d3bcf76847b78ab769ae0453469","source_record_id":7005,"source_table":"GraphicKey","value":{"Attr0":"gr11","Attr1":"nc_cp,sc_cp,","Attr10":"A","Attr11":"G","Attr12":"AS,Z","Attr13":"CU","Attr14":"O,P,R,Y","Attr2":"Dry,Moist","Attr3":"Sun","Attr3a":"n","Attr3a_subregion":"native_nc_cp:n,native_sc_cp:n,","Attr4":" 4-7","Attr5":"S,T","Attr6":"A,B","Attr7":"S","Attr8":"F","Attr9":"D"}},{"field":"bloom_season","source_column":"Phenology","source_database_sha256":"684f6b364ff9f3023aa61ed02ae50f6f6d6d4d3bcf76847b78ab769ae0453469","source_record_id":7005,"source_table":"Organism","value":"May to June"}],"values":{"bloom_season":"May to June","geographic_range_description":"Native of sc. United States south into Mexico. Although found along the coast in North Carolina (New Hanover Co., where it grows with O. drummondii ), South Carolina, and Virginia (Henrico, Isle of Wight, and Hanover cos. [Wright et al. 2023]), the origin(s) of those populations is unknown. The native range of O. engelmannii var. lindheimeri is the western US (although occurring in coastal w Louisiana) and Mexico, so it seems unlikely that the coastal Atlantic populations are native; however, certain populations along the South Carolina coast can be found in quite isolated locations (P. McMillan, pers. comm.). Small (1933) reported O. cantabrigiensis Lynch from dunes near Beaufort, North Carolina, based on a fragmentary 1930 collection accompanied by a photograph. Similar plants were apparently seen near Beaufort by Engelmann, prior to 1856. Benson (1982) refers the collection tentatively to O. lindheimeri Engelmann var. cuija (Griffiths & Hare) L.D. Benson, treated in K as O. engelmannii Salm-Dyck ex Engelmann var. cuija Griffiths & Hare, a native of Mexico. Benson (1982) also stated, however, that it could also be var. lindheimeri (primarily of Texas and Mexico), or, indeed, O. tuna (Linnaeus) P. Miller (native to the West Indies). Benson (1982) failed to relocate the plant in the field in 1956, but stated there was \"insufficient time for a thorough search.\" Unless relocated, the identity of the plant will probably remain a mystery, as well as whether it represents a native species, an established population from aboriginal use, or a more recent introduction or adventive.","graphic_key_source_attributes":{"Attr0":"gr11","Attr1":"nc_cp,sc_cp,","Attr10":"A","Attr11":"G","Attr12":"AS,Z","Attr13":"CU","Attr14":"O,P,R,Y","Attr2":"Dry,Moist","Attr3":"Sun","Attr3a":"n","Attr3a_subregion":"native_nc_cp:n,native_sc_cp:n,","Attr4":" 4-7","Attr5":"S,T","Attr6":"A,B","Attr7":"S","Attr8":"F","Attr9":"D"},"habitat_description":"Disturbed areas, where persistent or spreading from cultivation (Majure et al. 2011), but also apparently early introduced by native Americans or early settlers on coastal dunes and sand barrens on barrier islands.","habitat_light_categories":["Full sun"],"habitat_moisture_categories":["Dry","Moist"],"heliophily_index":9,"phenology_source_text":"May-Jun; Aug-Nov (-Feb).","taxonomic_synonymy":"[= GrPl, K4, S13; = n/a — C, RAB; = Opuntia engelmannii Salm-Dyck ex Engelm. var. lindheimeri (Engelm.) B.D.Parfitt & Pinkava — FNA4, NcTx, NS, POWO, Tx; > Opuntia cantabrigiensis Lynch — S; Opuntia engelmannii Salm-Dyck ex Engelm. — Mex; > Opuntia engelmannii Salm-Dyck ex Engelm. var. cacanapa (Griffiths) Weniger — Weniger (1984); > Opuntia engelmannii Salm-Dyck ex Engelm. var. texana (Griffiths) Weniger — Weniger (1984); > Opuntia engemannii var. alta (Griffiths) Weniger — Weniger (1984); > Opuntia lindheimeri Engelmann — S; > Opuntia tardospina Griffiths — Weniger (1984)]"}}},"light_range":["full sun","full sun"],"light_source":"Weakley, Flora of the Southeastern United States (2025), Carolinas & Georgia edition","native_synthesis":{"claims":[{"claim":"introduced","flag":"N","matched_name":"Opuntia lindheimeri","scope":"AL","source":"al_atlas","url":"https://dev.alabama.plantatlas.usf.edu/plant/species/5390"},{"claim":"native","matched_name":"Opuntia lindheimeri","scope":"L48","source":"usda","text":"L48:N","url":"https://plants.usda.gov/"},{"basis":"species account without the alien asterisk","claim":"native_distribution","matched_name":"Opuntia lindheimeri","scope":"AL-AR-DC-DE-FL-GA-KY-LA-MD-MS-NC-NJ-PA-SC-TN-VA-WV","source":"weakley_fsus","url":"https://fsus.ncbg.unc.edu/"},{"basis":"Native field of the South Central edition; the state is in its distribution","claim":"introduced","record_id":7005,"scope":"AL-MS-TN","source":"floraquest_south_central","url":"https://fsus.ncbg.unc.edu/"}],"county_native_range":"unresolved","decided_by":"al_atlas","explanation":"Alabama Plant Atlas (published flora, state claim) gives the value, over a broader claim from a higher tier.","label":"Not native to Alabama","provenance":{"flags":["over_higher_tier"],"source":"al_atlas","specificity":"state","tier":"published_flora"},"rule":"fact-hierarchy-2","status":"not_native"},"source_name":"Opuntia lindheimeri","taxon_id":"taxon:19092df9-b3f3-5103-9ad2-c2756a1bb846","revision":"publish:cdb975f5-333c-4482-92bd-514ef43ee9c3","photos":[]}