{"assessment":{"band":"Not scored","fit_score":null,"native_basis":"unresolved","rarity_adjustment":null,"rarity_policy":"Conservation status is displayed separately and never changes ecological scores, including when unranked.","reason":"Native classification is missing or conflicting in the available sources.","reference":"NC native reference cohort, method 0.6.4; not a Kentucky percentile","score":null,"scoring_inputs":{"harm_penalty":0,"invasive":false,"invasive_rank":null,"native":null,"state_rank":"SNR"},"status":"native_status_unresolved","version":"shared-0.6.5"},"condition_evidence":{"light":{"evidence_id":"fact:2cf983c3de571678ca75ea444ec01ff4ca522c7a357d6e4e7a7c3fe6e969cf42","levels":[4],"policy":"selected-condition-categories-1","range":[4,4],"scope":{"kind":"region","region_id":"floraquest_nc_sc_ga"},"semantics":"documented_native_habitat_conditions","source_field":"habitat_light_categories","source_label":"FloraQuest: Carolinas, Georgia (Southeastern Flora Team)","source_url":"https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.emountainworks.android.southeastfieldguide","status":"mapped_selected_fact"},"moisture":{"evidence_id":"fact:d7a61e2a4ceda0f84ede947cc32f5660a24c96dd9fc59cf2e50f8bf7c412b210","levels":[0,3],"policy":"selected-condition-categories-1","range":[0,3],"scope":{"kind":"region","region_id":"floraquest_nc_sc_ga"},"semantics":"documented_native_habitat_conditions","source_field":"habitat_moisture_categories","source_label":"FloraQuest: Carolinas, Georgia (Southeastern Flora Team)","source_url":"https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.emountainworks.android.southeastfieldguide","status":"mapped_selected_fact"}},"evidence":{"fit_score":null,"growth_habit":["Shrub"],"invasive_status":{"status":"unresolved"},"native_status":{"status":"unresolved"},"occurrence":{"county_fips":["21009","21017","21031","21051","21061","21065","21067","21113","21141","21143","21151","21195","21221","21227"],"meaning":"Recorded occurrence; not a county native-range assertion"},"quercus_score":null,"regional":{"county_fips":["21009","21017","21031","21051","21061","21065","21067","21113","21141","21143","21151","21195","21221","21227"],"growth_habit":"shrub","growth_habit_source":"tnky_atlas","invasive":null,"invasive_evidence":[],"invasive_rank":null,"native":null,"native_evidence":[{"claim":"native","matched_name":"Opuntia cespitosa","scope":"TN-KY","source":"tnky_atlas","url":"https://tennessee-kentucky.plantatlas.usf.edu/plant/species/3390"}],"native_status":"unresolved","source_ids":["tnky:3390"],"source_name":"Opuntia cespitosa","source_refs":["KY-county-21009.json","KY-county-21017.json","KY-county-21031.json","KY-county-21051.json","KY-county-21061.json","KY-county-21065.json","KY-county-21067.json","KY-county-21113.json","KY-county-21141.json","KY-county-21143.json","KY-county-21151.json","KY-county-21195.json","KY-county-21221.json","KY-county-21227.json","sernec_county"],"source_url":"https://tennessee-kentucky.plantatlas.usf.edu/plant/species/3390","state_rank":"SNR"},"source_refs":["KY-county-21009.json","KY-county-21017.json","KY-county-21031.json","KY-county-21051.json","KY-county-21061.json","KY-county-21065.json","KY-county-21067.json","KY-county-21113.json","KY-county-21141.json","KY-county-21143.json","KY-county-21151.json","KY-county-21195.json","KY-county-21221.json","KY-county-21227.json","sernec_county"],"source_url":"https://tennessee-kentucky.plantatlas.usf.edu/plant/species/3390","state_rank":{"value":"SNR"}},"fit_inputs":{"light":[4,4],"moisture":[0,3],"ph":null},"fit_provenance":{"light":"FloraQuest: Carolinas, Georgia (Southeastern Flora Team)","moisture":"FloraQuest: Carolinas, Georgia (Southeastern Flora Team)"},"fit_record":{"band":"Not scored","condition_evidence":{"light":{"evidence_id":"fact:2cf983c3de571678ca75ea444ec01ff4ca522c7a357d6e4e7a7c3fe6e969cf42","levels":[4],"policy":"selected-condition-categories-1","range":[4,4],"scope":{"kind":"region","region_id":"floraquest_nc_sc_ga"},"semantics":"documented_native_habitat_conditions","source_field":"habitat_light_categories","source_label":"FloraQuest: Carolinas, Georgia (Southeastern Flora Team)","source_url":"https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.emountainworks.android.southeastfieldguide","status":"mapped_selected_fact"},"moisture":{"evidence_id":"fact:d7a61e2a4ceda0f84ede947cc32f5660a24c96dd9fc59cf2e50f8bf7c412b210","levels":[0,3],"policy":"selected-condition-categories-1","range":[0,3],"scope":{"kind":"region","region_id":"floraquest_nc_sc_ga"},"semantics":"documented_native_habitat_conditions","source_field":"habitat_moisture_categories","source_label":"FloraQuest: Carolinas, Georgia (Southeastern Flora Team)","source_url":"https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.emountainworks.android.southeastfieldguide","status":"mapped_selected_fact"}},"county_fips":["21009","21017","21031","21051","21061","21065","21067","21113","21141","21143","21151","21195","21221","21227","47009","47037","47039","47041","47047","47049","47051","47055","47075","47087","47089","47093","47115","47117","47119","47125","47135","47145","47149","47157","47161","47165","47189"],"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":"FloraQuest: Carolinas, Georgia (Southeastern Flora Team)","moisture":"FloraQuest: Carolinas, Georgia (Southeastern Flora Team)"},"garden_suitability":{"default_excluded":false,"flags":[],"review_status":"not_assessed"},"invasive_rank":false,"native_eligible":false,"quercus_score":null,"state":"KY"},"garden_suitability":{"default_excluded":false,"flags":[],"review_status":"not_assessed"},"growing_observations":{"floraquest_carolinas_georgia":{"matched_name":"Opuntia cespitosa","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":"FloraQuest: Carolinas, Georgia (Southeastern Flora Team)","source_name":"Opuntia cespitosa","source_record_id":9715,"source_sha256":"684f6b364ff9f3023aa61ed02ae50f6f6d6d4d3bcf76847b78ab769ae0453469","source_url":"https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.emountainworks.android.southeastfieldguide","trait_evidence":[{"field":"habitat_description","source_column":"HabitatText","source_database_sha256":"684f6b364ff9f3023aa61ed02ae50f6f6d6d4d3bcf76847b78ab769ae0453469","source_record_id":9715,"source_table":"Organism","value":"Limestone and chalk outcrops, dolomite outcrops, glades, sandy or blackland prairies, upland hardwood or mixed hardwood-pine forests in dry, clay soils."},{"field":"geographic_range_description","source_column":"Description","source_database_sha256":"684f6b364ff9f3023aa61ed02ae50f6f6d6d4d3bcf76847b78ab769ae0453469","source_record_id":9715,"source_table":"Organism","value":"This is the most common species (a tetraploid, 2 n = 44) in the eastern United States; it has traditionally been considered conspecific with O. humifusa . O. cespitosa is most common west of the Appalachian Mountains and is found throughout most of the Midwestern states, east of the Mississippi river."},{"field":"phenology_source_text","source_column":"Phenology","source_database_sha256":"684f6b364ff9f3023aa61ed02ae50f6f6d6d4d3bcf76847b78ab769ae0453469","source_record_id":9715,"source_table":"Organism","value":"May-Jun; Aug-Dec (-Feb)."},{"field":"taxonomic_synonymy","source_column":"Synonymy","source_database_sha256":"684f6b364ff9f3023aa61ed02ae50f6f6d6d4d3bcf76847b78ab769ae0453469","source_record_id":9715,"source_table":"Organism","value":"[= Can, K4, NSProv, NY, POWO, Majure et al (2017); = Opuntia rafinesquei Engelmann; Opuntia compressa (Salisb.) J.F.Macbr. — RAB; > Opuntia compressa (Salisb.) J.F.Macbr. — WV; Opuntia compressa (Salisb.) J.F.Macbr. var. compressa — G; > Opuntia compressa (Salisb.) J.F.Macbr. var. fusco-atra (Engelm.) Weniger — Weniger (1984); > Opuntia compressa (Salisb.) J.F.Macbr. var. grandiflora (Engelm.) Weniger — Weniger (1984); > Opuntia compressa (Salisb.) J.F.Macbr. var. microsperma (Engelm.) L.D.Benson; Opuntia humifusa (Raf.) Raf. — C, F, GrPl, Il, Mi, Pa, Tn, W, WH3; > Opuntia humifusa (Raf.) Raf. — S13, Ward (2009e); > Opuntia humifusa (Raf.) Raf. ssp. minor (Engelm.) R.Crook & Mottram; Opuntia humifusa (Raf.) Raf. var. humifusa — FNA4, K1, Va, Benson (1982), Doyle (1990); > Opuntia humifusa (Raf.) Raf. var. microsperma (Engelm.) A.Heller; > Opuntia humifusa (Raf.) Raf. var. parva A. Heller; > Opuntia mesacantha Raf. var. microsperma (Engelm.) J.M.Coult.; > Opuntia mesacantha Raf. var. parva J.M.Coult.; > Opuntia opuntia (L.) H.Karst. — S, Britton & Rose (1937); > Opuntia rafinesqueii Engelmann var. microsperma Engelmann; > Opuntia rafinesqueii Engelmann var. minor Engelmann]"},{"field":"identification_notes","source_column":"IdentificationNotes","source_database_sha256":"684f6b364ff9f3023aa61ed02ae50f6f6d6d4d3bcf76847b78ab769ae0453469","source_record_id":9715,"source_table":"Organism","value":"O. cespitosa can be differentiated from O. humifusa by its yellow tepals that are basally tinged red, crimson or red-brown, as well as dark brown or red glochids and the presence of spines (note: populations in Bibb Co., AL tend to have lighter colored glochids as in O. humifusa or O. mesacantha ). Vegetatively, it is most similar to O. mesacantha ssp . mesacantha , from which this allopolyploid may be partially derived, although floral features are quite different, and O. cespitosa does not have the strongly retrorsely-barbed spines common in O. mesacantha . This species also can be confused with certain forms of O. macrorhiza , another putative parent of O. cespitosa ; both species have yellow inner tepals basally tinged red adaxially."},{"field":"heliophily_index","source_column":"HIndex","source_database_sha256":"684f6b364ff9f3023aa61ed02ae50f6f6d6d4d3bcf76847b78ab769ae0453469","source_record_id":9715,"source_table":"Organism","value":9},{"field":"habitat_moisture_categories","source_column":"Attr2","source_database_sha256":"684f6b364ff9f3023aa61ed02ae50f6f6d6d4d3bcf76847b78ab769ae0453469","source_record_id":9715,"source_table":"GraphicKey","value":["Dry","Moist"]},{"field":"habitat_light_categories","source_column":"Attr3","source_database_sha256":"684f6b364ff9f3023aa61ed02ae50f6f6d6d4d3bcf76847b78ab769ae0453469","source_record_id":9715,"source_table":"GraphicKey","value":["Full sun"]},{"field":"graphic_key_source_attributes","source_column":"Attr0..25","source_database_sha256":"684f6b364ff9f3023aa61ed02ae50f6f6d6d4d3bcf76847b78ab769ae0453469","source_record_id":9715,"source_table":"GraphicKey","value":{"Attr0":"gr11","Attr1":"ga_mt,","Attr10":"A","Attr11":"G","Attr12":"AS","Attr13":"CU","Attr14":"R,Y","Attr2":"Dry,Moist","Attr3":"Sun","Attr3a":"y","Attr3a_subregion":"native_ga_mt:y,","Attr4":" 4-7","Attr5":"S","Attr6":"A","Attr7":"S","Attr8":"F","Attr9":"D"}}],"values":{"geographic_range_description":"This is the most common species (a tetraploid, 2 n = 44) in the eastern United States; it has traditionally been considered conspecific with O. humifusa . O. cespitosa is most common west of the Appalachian Mountains and is found throughout most of the Midwestern states, east of the Mississippi river.","graphic_key_source_attributes":{"Attr0":"gr11","Attr1":"ga_mt,","Attr10":"A","Attr11":"G","Attr12":"AS","Attr13":"CU","Attr14":"R,Y","Attr2":"Dry,Moist","Attr3":"Sun","Attr3a":"y","Attr3a_subregion":"native_ga_mt:y,","Attr4":" 4-7","Attr5":"S","Attr6":"A","Attr7":"S","Attr8":"F","Attr9":"D"},"habitat_description":"Limestone and chalk outcrops, dolomite outcrops, glades, sandy or blackland prairies, upland hardwood or mixed hardwood-pine forests in dry, clay soils.","habitat_light_categories":["Full sun"],"habitat_moisture_categories":["Dry","Moist"],"heliophily_index":9,"identification_notes":"O. cespitosa can be differentiated from O. humifusa by its yellow tepals that are basally tinged red, crimson or red-brown, as well as dark brown or red glochids and the presence of spines (note: populations in Bibb Co., AL tend to have lighter colored glochids as in O. humifusa or O. mesacantha ). Vegetatively, it is most similar to O. mesacantha ssp . mesacantha , from which this allopolyploid may be partially derived, although floral features are quite different, and O. cespitosa does not have the strongly retrorsely-barbed spines common in O. mesacantha . This species also can be confused with certain forms of O. macrorhiza , another putative parent of O. cespitosa ; both species have yellow inner tepals basally tinged red adaxially.","phenology_source_text":"May-Jun; Aug-Dec (-Feb).","taxonomic_synonymy":"[= Can, K4, NSProv, NY, POWO, Majure et al (2017); = Opuntia rafinesquei Engelmann; Opuntia compressa (Salisb.) J.F.Macbr. — RAB; > Opuntia compressa (Salisb.) J.F.Macbr. — WV; Opuntia compressa (Salisb.) J.F.Macbr. var. compressa — G; > Opuntia compressa (Salisb.) J.F.Macbr. var. fusco-atra (Engelm.) Weniger — Weniger (1984); > Opuntia compressa (Salisb.) J.F.Macbr. var. grandiflora (Engelm.) Weniger — Weniger (1984); > Opuntia compressa (Salisb.) J.F.Macbr. var. microsperma (Engelm.) L.D.Benson; Opuntia humifusa (Raf.) Raf. — C, F, GrPl, Il, Mi, Pa, Tn, W, WH3; > Opuntia humifusa (Raf.) Raf. — S13, Ward (2009e); > Opuntia humifusa (Raf.) Raf. ssp. minor (Engelm.) R.Crook & Mottram; Opuntia humifusa (Raf.) Raf. var. humifusa — FNA4, K1, Va, Benson (1982), Doyle (1990); > Opuntia humifusa (Raf.) Raf. var. microsperma (Engelm.) A.Heller; > Opuntia humifusa (Raf.) Raf. var. parva A. Heller; > Opuntia mesacantha Raf. var. microsperma (Engelm.) J.M.Coult.; > Opuntia mesacantha Raf. var. parva J.M.Coult.; > Opuntia opuntia (L.) H.Karst. — S, Britton & Rose (1937); > Opuntia rafinesqueii Engelmann var. microsperma Engelmann; > Opuntia rafinesqueii Engelmann var. minor Engelmann]"}},"wildflower_center":{"display_withheld_fields":["light","soil"],"field_quality_flags":{"light":["Existing displayed guidance retained; incoming source differs"],"moisture_categories":["Existing displayed guidance retained; incoming source differs"]},"matched_name":"Opuntia cespitosa","retrieved":"2026-10-05T19:47:12.870308+00:00","scope":{"kind":"unspecified"},"scope_note":"Source-reported species characteristics; not a location-specific estimate.","source_label":"Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center","source_sha256":"5c5aa935800bce08ce9e45e5144a43237282fb3ce733b2c88f82b663468e0dc6","source_url":"https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=OPCE","trait_evidence":[{"expected_source_name":"Opuntia cespitosa","field":"light","original_field":"light","record_id":"trait:159ee77c51b3d23bc278b03a195fc3d5756d82cc5cf5b7f27ed0c61147a929ee","retrieved_at":"2026-10-05T19:47:12.870308+00:00","scope":{"kind":"unspecified"},"scope_note":"Species profile; distribution and native-status discovery filters do not establish local growing or bloom timing.","source":"wildflower","source_name":"Opuntia cespitosa","source_sha256":"5c5aa935800bce08ce9e45e5144a43237282fb3ce733b2c88f82b663468e0dc6","source_url":"https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=OPCE","status":"eligible_fact","taxon_id":"taxon:8bac56b1-e839-530f-bfb8-76551df13967","value":["Sun"]},{"expected_source_name":"Opuntia cespitosa","field":"moisture_categories","original_field":"soil_moisture","record_id":"trait:17414b633f4fad85decc10080034d2043e31a75734e12044b21c7eae49528935","retrieved_at":"2026-10-05T19:47:12.870308+00:00","scope":{"kind":"unspecified"},"scope_note":"Species profile; distribution and native-status discovery filters do not establish local growing or bloom timing.","source":"wildflower","source_name":"Opuntia cespitosa","source_sha256":"5c5aa935800bce08ce9e45e5144a43237282fb3ce733b2c88f82b663468e0dc6","source_url":"https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=OPCE","status":"eligible_fact","taxon_id":"taxon:8bac56b1-e839-530f-bfb8-76551df13967","value":["Dry"]},{"expected_source_name":"Opuntia cespitosa","field":"height_description","original_field":"height","record_id":"trait:46372a7ac876d7a9924b368aac4fe7012284c681266404cec19b21d6b1f4c3b0","retrieved_at":"2026-10-05T19:47:12.870308+00:00","scope":{"kind":"unspecified"},"scope_note":"Species profile; distribution and native-status discovery filters do not establish local growing or bloom timing.","source":"wildflower","source_name":"Opuntia cespitosa","source_sha256":"5c5aa935800bce08ce9e45e5144a43237282fb3ce733b2c88f82b663468e0dc6","source_url":"https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=OPCE","status":"eligible_fact","taxon_id":"taxon:8bac56b1-e839-530f-bfb8-76551df13967","value":{"approximate":true,"kind":"upper_bound","max":1.5,"unit":"feet"}},{"expected_source_name":"Opuntia cespitosa","field":"leaf_habit","original_field":"leaf_habit","record_id":"trait:475f7f505d4b0e89f70de2ea713a0113c14cb511f188964f4ef49a07f33567e1","retrieved_at":"2026-10-05T19:47:12.870308+00:00","scope":{"kind":"unspecified"},"scope_note":"Species profile; distribution and native-status discovery filters do not establish local growing or bloom timing.","source":"wildflower","source_name":"Opuntia cespitosa","source_sha256":"5c5aa935800bce08ce9e45e5144a43237282fb3ce733b2c88f82b663468e0dc6","source_url":"https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=OPCE","status":"eligible_fact","taxon_id":"taxon:8bac56b1-e839-530f-bfb8-76551df13967","value":["Evergreen"]},{"expected_source_name":"Opuntia cespitosa","field":"life_cycle","original_field":"life_cycle","record_id":"trait:ba1e5045b895e30bb3b9cf2421e89468c0fb0d8da12d45b0b38f5dc83350617d","retrieved_at":"2026-10-05T19:47:12.870308+00:00","scope":{"kind":"unspecified"},"scope_note":"Species profile; distribution and native-status discovery filters do not establish local growing or bloom timing.","source":"wildflower","source_name":"Opuntia cespitosa","source_sha256":"5c5aa935800bce08ce9e45e5144a43237282fb3ce733b2c88f82b663468e0dc6","source_url":"https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=OPCE","status":"eligible_fact","taxon_id":"taxon:8bac56b1-e839-530f-bfb8-76551df13967","value":["Perennial"]},{"expected_source_name":"Opuntia cespitosa","field":"flower_color","original_field":"flower_color","record_id":"trait:d516a65efe5ca7c429b90c8ef69949ff555676fdd7b18fd320475b2130374326","retrieved_at":"2026-10-05T19:47:12.870308+00:00","scope":{"kind":"unspecified"},"scope_note":"Species profile; distribution and native-status discovery filters do not establish local growing or bloom timing.","source":"wildflower","source_name":"Opuntia cespitosa","source_sha256":"5c5aa935800bce08ce9e45e5144a43237282fb3ce733b2c88f82b663468e0dc6","source_url":"https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=OPCE","status":"eligible_fact","taxon_id":"taxon:8bac56b1-e839-530f-bfb8-76551df13967","value":["Red","Yellow"]}],"values":{"flower_color":["Red","Yellow"],"height_description":"Up to about 1.5 feet","leaf_habit":["Evergreen"],"life_cycle":["Perennial"],"light":["Sun"],"moisture_categories":["Dry"]}}},"light_range":["full sun","full sun"],"light_source":"FloraQuest: Carolinas, Georgia (Southeastern Flora Team)","native_synthesis":{"claims":[{"claim":"native","matched_name":"Opuntia cespitosa","scope":"TN-KY","source":"tnky_atlas","url":"https://tennessee-kentucky.plantatlas.usf.edu/plant/species/3390"}],"county_native_range":"unresolved","explanation":"Source scopes are preserved. State occurrence alone does not establish nativity; combined regional evidence is labeled estimated.","label":"Native status unresolved in Kentucky","rule":"southeast-native-synthesis-1","status":"unresolved"},"source_name":"Opuntia cespitosa","taxon_id":"taxon:8bac56b1-e839-530f-bfb8-76551df13967","revision":"publish:5809c037-0e9a-430a-8008-5ab6f69800c0","photos":[]}