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buckhorn cholla

Scientific Name: Cylindropuntia acanthocarpa var. acanthocarpa

Family: Cactaceae

Category: Dicot

Growth: Shrub

Duration: Perennial

Other Names:

       

Buckhorn Cholla: A Desert Dweller

Cylindropuntia acanthocarpa, commonly known as Buckhorn Cholla (also Buck-horn cholla, major cholla, or yellow-flowered cane cactus), is a distinctive cactus species found in the arid landscapes of the southwestern United States and northern Mexico.

Considerations for Pets and Children

  • This plant possesses spines.
  • The plant has stem segments called "joints" that can detach easily.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

  • Scientific Name: Cylindropuntia acanthocarpa (Engelm. & Bigelow) F.M. Knuth
  • Synonym: Opuntia acanthocarpa Engelm. & Bigelow
  • Family: Cactaceae (Cactus family)

Distribution and Habitat

  • Native to the deserts of southern California, southern Nevada, southeastern Utah, and Arizona. Its range extends into northern Mexico and South Texas.
  • Typically found on desert mesas and slopes between 500 and 3500 feet in elevation.

Morphological Characteristics

  • An upright, branched, woody cactus with a short trunk or no trunk at all.
  • The stems are slender and cylindrical, often referred to as "joints." These joints are typically gray-green and range from 6-12 inches long.
  • It grows to about 6 feet (1.8 meters) tall.
  • The tubercles (raised areas on the stem where spines emerge) are elongate, measuring approximately 0.75-1 inch long and 0.25 inches wide.
  • It features yellow spines.
  • Flowers bloom from early April to late May. The flowers are approximately 3 inches (7.6 cm) wide, and range in color from rusty red to yellow, or orange/red.

Quirky Facts

  • The stem segments, or "joints," are known for detaching easily, sometimes leading to the common description of Chollas as "annoying" cacti that "huddle in clusters in dusty landscapes."
  • Native Americans used the ashes from the stems medicinally.
  • The fruit was gathered by Native Americans to be eaten fresh or dried and stored for later use.

Further Resources

  • USDA NRCS National Plant Data
  • Wikimedia Commons
  • Dave's Garden