About the binomen Cylindropuntia rosea (Cactaceae) and its invasive individuals recorded in the Valencian Community (Spain)

Cylindropuntia rosea (DC.) Backeb., a name often used to designate the ‘Cardenche’ invasive cactus in the Valencian Community (Spain) is a misapplied binomen in many botanical works. The plants referred under this combination really match C. imbricata (Haw.) F.M.Knuth, another invasive species also found in this area. The plants referred under this name really match C. pallida (Rose) F.M. Knuth. This species is native from Mexico, but its phylogenetic origin is uncertain, and several hypothesis can be proposed: a true species, an allotetraploid hybrid Cylindropuntia imbricata × tunicata (Baker & al., 2009, Haseltonia 15: 117-134), and maybe both diploid and tetraploid allopolyploids from the same genetic combination