Editing Eastern Prickly Pear (section)

== Introduced Colonies ==

The colonies listed below are colonies which are known to be introduced into their current habitat.  Presently, only the ''O. humifusa'' at Avery Point in Groton, Connecticut are confirmed to be introduced specimens.  Because introduced specimens may live in areas where ''O. humifusa'' never existed historically, and because they may exhibit characteristics not found in native ''O. humifusa'', they potentially have the ability to corrupt my research data.  Therefore, these introduced colonies are not included in the scope my research.

=== Avery Point Colony (Groton) ===

In a publication produced by the Long Island Sound Study in August 2010, it was noted that two high school interns worked to remove invasive plants from the area of the Avery Point Lighthouse in Groton, Connecticut and that ''Opuntia humifusa'', amongst other native plants, were established in their place.<ref name="liss-2010">''2008 Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan Implementation Tracking Report''. The Long Island Sound Study, 2010. 55. Web. <http://longislandsoundstudy.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/Combined-Document-2009-TMReport1.pdf>.</ref>

It is not known if these ''O. humifusa'' were established in a "natural setting" or a proper garden.  Either way, these plants represent a known introduced colony and are therefore outside the scope of my research.