Seeds of the Future

Seeds of the Future. Emerson Point Preserve. When is an apple a cactus? When the plant in question is the aboriginal prickly-apple, Harrisia aboriginum. This cactus was first described by John Kunkel Small in 1920 from a sample he discovered on Terra Ceia Island in northern Manatee County. Historically, it grew on shell mounds, coastal berms, and coastal hammocks like this one, ranging along nearly 80 miles of the Gulf coast from Terra Ceia to Buck Key, just north of Sanibel Island , , The same shell mounds created by American Indians were among the first areas settled by Florida's early pioneers. The high and dry land provided protection from flooding and afforded a spectacular view of the area. As these settlers developed the land, aboriginal prickly-apple's habitat disappeared. , , Manatee County land managers worked with Marie Selby Botanical Gardens to grow and transplant this endangered and protected cactus into suitable habitats including secluded and protected sites at Emerson Point Preserve. The species faces many threats, from development to poaching to invasive Iguanas who feed on the flowers, but with hard work and time we hope to reestablish the local populations and provide for future generations of visitors and wildlife alike. , (captions) , Small and friends recovering samples from Terra Ceia. , , Aboriginal Prickly-Catus Harrisia aboriginum