Editing Eastern Prickly Pear (section)

== Other Historical Locations ==

Below is a list of towns where ''Opuntia humifusa'' was found historically.  This information is derived primarily from herbarium records, but also historical books.  All of the supporting resources referenced here are at least 10 years old, but most are considerably older (many are greater than 100 years old).

It is entirely possible that, in some cases, the historical colonies from which these specimens were collected correspond with extant colonies that I have documented.  However, because all of the historical resources listed here refer to collection locations so vaguely, it is difficult or impossible to say for sure.  For example, in 1822 a botanist by the name of H. N. Fenn collected a specimen of ''O. humifusa'' from New Haven, Connecticut.  Since Fenn did not include specifics about the collection location, it is impossible to say whether or not he harvested his specimen from the earlier ancestors of the modern populations at West Rock Ridge (which I have documented) or from some different location where ''O. humifusa'' no longer exists.  For this reason, the historical data presented below occasionally overlaps with towns at which I have documented modern ''O. humifusa'' colonies.

There is little or no information available that can confirm or deny the continued existence of ''O. humifusa'' at some of the towns listed below.  These places include Scotland, Naugatuck, Oxford, Seymour and Wilton.  ''O. humifusa'' undoubtedly grew wild at one time in these municipalities, but no record of the continued existence of the cactus have been found in over a century.  The only way to know for sure would involve a thorough exploration of all possible habitat area in those towns (a task which could easily take years).

=== Branford (General Area, Stony Creek & Kelsey Island) ===

The Yale University Herbarium contains a specimen of ''Opuntia humifusa'' collected in Branford, Connecticut by W. H. Brewer in 1852 (YPM YU 051550).<ref name="yuh"></ref>  No further specifics are provided concerning the location of the colony from which the specimen was harvested.

The Yale University Herbarium contains a second specimen of ''Opuntia humifusa'' collected at Stony Creek by J. H. Buell on July 1, 1874 (YPM YU 051549)<ref name="yuh"></ref>.  Stony Creek is not an incorporated town in Connecticut, but rather a census-designated place within Branford.  No further specifics are provided concerning the location of the colony from which the specimen was harvested.

The George Safford Torrey Herbarium at UConn contains a specimen of ''Opuntia humifusa'' collected in Branford on September 22, 1998 by William H. Moorhead III in Branford, Connecticut (CONN Accession #122327).  The collection location is rather precisely revealed as "sunny outcrops of pink bedrock (mapped as granitic gneiss)" on the "northeast end" of Kelsey Island.<ref name="gsth">''The George Safford Torrey Herbarium (CONN)''. University of Connecticut, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, n.d. Web. 16 May 2012.</ref>  The elevation of the collection site is recorded as being 3 meters (9.8 feet) above sea level.  Moorhead elaborates even further, noting that the ''O. humifusa'' plants from which he harvested fruits were "on sub-level to gently moderately sloping surfaces."  Interestingly, he adds that ''O. humifusa'' can also be found "in similar habitat at northern end of smaller upland island northwest of main island, and in house yards on mainland north of island."  Since the collection date for this specimen is relatively recent, there is a very good possibility that the cactus colony from which it was harvested still exists.

=== Bridgeport ===

The George Safford Torrey Herbarium at UConn contains a specimen of ''Opuntia vulgaris'' collected on July 7, 1909 by E. H. Eames from a "dry exposed ledge" in Bridgeport, Connecticut (CONN Accession #105615).  The elevation of the collection site is noted as 3 feet above sea level.<ref name="gsth"></ref>  No further specifics are provided concerning the location of the colony from which the specimen was harvested.

=== Burlington (Burlington Mountain) ===

The George Safford Torrey Herbarium at UConn contains a specimen of ''Opuntia humifusa'' collected on July 25, 1908 from Burlington, Connecticut (CONN Accession #101928).  The collection location is further identified as Burlington Mountain.<ref name="gsth"></ref>

In modern times, it doesn't appear that there is any landform known officially as Burlington Mountain within the town, a fact which complicates the task of trying to determine where this colony would have existed over a century ago.  Historical maps from the mid-1800s don't show any labelled landmark by the name of "Burlington Mountain", even though Burlington Mountain is referred to briefly in a few texts dating the first decade of the 20th century.  None of the historic texts provide any clues at what modern mountain was once called Burlington Mountain.

=== Clinton ===

The Yale University Herbarium contains a specimen of ''Opuntia humifusa vulgaris'' collected in Clinton, Connecticut by J. H. Buell on August 7, 1960 (YPM CBS 016311).  No further specifics are provided concerning the location of the colony from which the specimen was harvested.<ref name="yuh"></ref>

=== Franklin ===

The George Safford Torrey Herbarium at UConn contains a specimen of ''Opuntia vulgaris'' collected on May 11, 1916 from "rocky open woods" in Franklin, Connecticut (CONN Accession #161634).<ref name="gsth"></ref>  No further specifics are provided concerning the location of the colony from which the specimen was harvested.

=== Guilford (General Area & Leetes Island) ===

The Yale University Herbarium contains a specimen of ''Opuntia humifusa vulgaris'' collected in Guilford, Connecticut by C. H. Bissell on July 16, 1897 (YPM CBS 016313)<ref name="yuh"></ref>.  No further specifics are provided concerning the location of the colony from which the specimen was harvested.

In a 1910 publication titled "Catalogue of the Flowering Plants and Ferns of Connecticut Growing Without Cultivation", author Charles B. Graves notes Guilford as a town known to support wild ''O. humifusa'' at that time.<ref name="catalogue-1910"></ref>  Graves also separately mentions North Guilford, however there is no such incorporated town in Connecticut and he was likely referring to the northern sections of Guilford.

The George Safford Torrey Herbarium at UConn contains a specimen of ''Opuntia humifusa'' collected in Guilford, Connecticut on August 27, 1950 by G. S. Torrey (CONN Accession #161634).  The collection location is described as "ledges in scrubby pasture" at Leetes Island.<ref name="gsth"></ref>  The record also notes that this collection was performed with the Connecticut Botanical Society, which may possibly still have field records pertinent to this ''O. humifusa'' colony.

=== Milford ===

The George Safford Torrey Herbarium at UConn contains a specimen of ''Opuntia rafinesquii'' collected on July 7, 1893 by E. H. Eames from "dry soil on rocks" in Milford, Connecticut (CONN Accession #161629).<ref name="gsth"></ref>  No further specifics are provided concerning the location of the colony from which the specimen was harvested.

Because such vague location data is provided with this specimen, it is difficult to say whether or not Eames harvested this specimen from the same colony that I've confirmed to exist currently in Milford (Milford Point Colony).  It is unlikely, however, because the Milford Point Colony is not at all rocky.

=== Naugatuck ===

The Yale University Herbarium contains a specimen of ''Opuntia humifusa vulgaris'' collected in Naugatuck, Connecticut by A. E. Blewitt on May 30, 1907 (YPM CBS 016310).  No further specifics are provided concerning the location of the colony from which the specimen was harvested.<ref name="yuh"></ref>

In a 1910 publication titled "Catalogue of the Flowering Plants and Ferns of Connecticut Growing Without Cultivation", author Charles B. Graves notes Naugatuck as a town known to support wild ''O. humifusa'' at that time.<ref name="catalogue-1910"></ref>

=== New Haven ===

The Yale University Herbarium contains a specimen of ''Opuntia humifusa'' collected in New Haven, Connecticut by H. N. Fenn in 1822 (YPM YU 070465).<ref name="yuh"></ref>  No further specifics are provided concerning the location of the colony from which the specimen was harvested.

The Yale University Herbarium contains a specimen of ''O. humifusa'' collected in New Haven, Connecticut in July 1886 (YPM YU 051546).<ref name="yuh"></ref>  No further specifics are provided concerning the location of the colony from which the specimen was harvested.

The Yale University Herbarium contains a specimen of ''O. humifusa'' collected at "Lighthouse Point" in New Haven, Connecticut by L. Brown on August 23, 1988 (YPM YU 051547).<ref name="yuh"></ref>  No further specifics are provided concerning the location of the colony from which the specimen was harvested.

=== Old Lyme (General Area & McCurdy Road) ===

The George Safford Torrey Herbarium at UConn contains a specimen of ''Opuntia vulgaris'' collected in Old Lyme, Connecticut on April 21, 1941 by Wilfred J. Latham (CONN Accession #161630).<ref name="gsth"></ref>  The elevation of the collection site is noted as 26 feet above sea level.  No further specifics are provided concerning the location of the colony from which the specimen was harvested.

The Yale University Herbarium contains a specimen of ''Opuntia humifusa vulgaris'' collected in Old Lyme, Connecticut by T. O. Hendrickson on September 29, 1988 (YPM CBS 016309).  No further specifics are provided concerning the location of the colony from which the specimen was harvested.<ref name="yuh"></ref>

The George Safford Torrey Herbarium at UConn contains a specimen of ''Opuntia compressa'' collected in Old Lyme, Connecticut on June 8, 1996 by Leslie John Mehrhoff.  The collection location is rather precisely revealed as the "east side of McCurdy Road near entrance to Old Lyme Country Club".<ref name="gsth"></ref>  Since the collection date for this specimen is relatively recent, there is a good possibility that the cactus colony from which it was harvested still exists.  However, the fact that the specimen was collected from the "Old Lyme Country Club" suggests that it may have been from a cultivated garden.

=== Oxford ===

In a 1910 publication titled "Catalogue of the Flowering Plants and Ferns of Connecticut Growing Without Cultivation", author Charles B. Graves notes Oxford as a town known to support wild ''O. humifusa'' at that time.<ref name="catalogue-1910"></ref>

=== Scotland ===

The George Safford Torrey Herbarium at UConn contains a specimen of ''Opuntia vulgaris'' collected on May 10, 1906 by Hugh S. Clark in Scotland, Connecticut (CONN Accession #05903).  The elevation of the collection site is noted as being 279 feet above sea level.<ref name="gsth"></ref>  No further specifics are provided concerning the location of the colony from which the specimen was harvested.

The Yale University Herbarium contains a specimen of ''Opuntia humifusa vulgaris'' collected in Scotland, Connecticut by C. H. Bissell on May 30, 1906 (YPM CBS 016312)<ref name="yuh"></ref>, only 20 days after Clark harvested his own specimen from Scotland.  No further specifics are provided concerning the location of the colony from which the specimen was harvested.

Finally, in a 1910 publication titled "Catalogue of the Flowering Plants and Ferns of Connecticut Growing Without Cultivation", author Charles B. Graves notes Scotland as a town known to support wild ''O. humifusa'' at that time.<ref name="catalogue-1910"></ref>

=== Seymour ===

The George Safford Torrey Herbarium at UConn contains a specimen of ''Opuntia vulgaris'' collected on June 7, 1903 by H. S. Clark in Seymour, Connecticut (CONN Accession #161633).  The elevation of the collection site is noted as being 102 feet above sea level.<ref name="gsth"></ref>  No further specifics are provided concerning the location of the colony from which the specimen was harvested.

The Yale University Herbarium also contains a specimen of ''Opuntia humifusa'' collected in Seymour, Connecticut by H. S. Clark (YPM CBS 025967)<ref name="yuh"></ref>.  No further specifics are provided concerning the location of the colony from which the specimen was harvested.  No date is associated with this specimen, however it may well have been collected the same day as the specimen contained in the Torrey Herbarium.

In a 1910 publication titled "Catalogue of the Flowering Plants and Ferns of Connecticut Growing Without Cultivation", author Charles B. Graves notes Seymour as a town known to support wild ''O. humifusa'' at that time.<ref name="catalogue-1910"></ref>

=== Stratford (General Area & Housatonic River) ===

The Yale University Herbarium contains a specimen of ''Opuntia humifusa '' collected in Stratford, Connecticut by A. L. Winton in June 1883 (YPM YU 051548)<ref name="yuh"></ref>.  No further specifics are provided concerning the location of the colony from which the specimen was harvested.

The Yale University Herbarium contains a specimen of ''Opuntia humifusa '' collected in Stratford, Connecticut by C. H. Bissell on July 17, 1901 (YPM CBS 025966)<ref name="yuh"></ref>.  No further specifics are provided concerning the location of the colony from which the specimen was harvested.

The George Safford Torrey Herbarium at UConn contains a specimen of ''Opuntia vulgaris'' collected on September 10, 1904 "near [the] Housatonic River" in Stratford, Connecticut (CONN Accession #05904).<ref name="gsth"></ref>  No further specifics are provided concerning the location of the colony from which the specimen was harvested.

The Yale University Herbarium contains a specimen of ''Opuntia humifusa '' collected in Stratford, Connecticut by D. C. Tank on May 19, 2007 (YPM YU 100036)<ref name="yuh"></ref>.  No further specifics are provided concerning the location of the colony from which the specimen was harvested.

=== Westbrook ===

The George Safford Torrey Herbarium at UConn contains a specimen of ''Opuntia vulgaris'' collected on April 16, 1934 by Howard Merrill from "rocky sterile soil" in Westbrook, Connecticut (CONN Accession #161632).  The elevation of the collection site is noted as being 36 feet above sea level.<ref name="gsth"></ref>  No further specifics are provided concerning the location of the colony from which the specimen was harvested.

=== Westport ===

The George Safford Torrey Herbarium at UConn contains two specimens of ''Opuntia vulgaris'' collected on May 1, 1909 by E. H. Eames from an "exposed ledge" in Westport, Connecticut (CONN Accession #105616 and #04642).  The elevation of collection site is stated as 30 feet above sea level.<ref name="gsth"></ref>  No further specifics are provided concerning the location of the colony from which the specimen was harvested.

=== Wilton ===

The Connecticut Botanical Society Herbarium contains a specimen of ''Opuntia humifusa'' ssp. ''vulgaris'' collected in Wilton, Connecticut by Anna E. Carpenter on July 11, 1924 (CBS.016308).  No further specifics are provided concerning the location of the colony from which the specimen was harvested.<ref name="cbsh">"Connecticut Botanical Society." ''Consortium of Northeastern Herbaria''. Consortium of Northeastern Herbaria, n.d. Web. 17 May 2012. <http://neherbaria.org/unitedstates></ref>