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Cylindropuntia
Scientific Name: Cylindropuntia
Family: Cactaceae
Category: Dicot
Growth:
Duration:
Other Names:
About the Cylindropuntia Genus
The genus Cylindropuntia belongs to the Cactaceae family and encompasses various species commonly known as "Cholla." These cacti are predominantly found in northern Mexico and the southwestern United States.
Considerations for Pets
- Many Cylindropuntia species are very spiny.
- Some species have stem segments that easily detach. For example, Cylindropuntia bigelovii (Jumping Cholla) has stem segments that readily detach.
- Cylindropuntia spinosior has spines that rapidly detach upon contact, causing pain.
Considerations for Children
- Many Cylindropuntia species are very spiny.
- Some species have stem segments that easily detach. For example, Cylindropuntia bigelovii (Jumping Cholla) has stem segments that readily detach.
- Cylindropuntia spinosior has spines that rapidly detach upon contact, causing pain.
Taxonomy and Nomenclature
- Scientific Name: Cylindropuntia (Engelm.) Kreuzinger
- Family: Cactaceae
- Common Name: Cholla
- Synonyms: The text mentions several species and their synonyms. For example, Cylindropuntia echinocarpa has the synonym Opuntia echinocarpa. Cylindropuntia fulgida was formerly known as Opuntia fulgida. Opuntia whipplei is another synonym for Cylindropuntia whipplei.
Distribution and Habitat
- Native to northern Mexico and the Southwestern United States.
- Indigenous to the Western Hemisphere, concentrated along the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn.
- Some species, such as Cylindropuntia californica, are native to California.
- Cylindropuntia wolfii is abundant in southern Anza-Borrego, California.
- Cylindropuntia echinocarpa is reported from the Mexican states of Sinaloa and Sonora, and from Arizona in the United States.
Ecological Role
- Cylindropuntia rosea and C. tunicata (Hudson pear) are declared pests in Queensland, Australia.
Morphological Characteristics and Growth Habits
- Cylindroid stem joints ranging from shrubs to small trees.
- Cylindropuntia arbuscula (Bush pencil cholla) grows to 8 feet tall and 8 feet wide.
- Species are characterized by cylindrical stem segments.
- Cylindropuntia californica var. californica is a perennial stem succulent.
Genetic and Cytological Information
- Cylindropuntia chuckwallensis is a gynodioecious hexaploid with n = 33.
- Flavonoids are present in the flowers of cholla species and their diploid and triploid hybrids.
Quirky Facts
- Cylindropuntia leptocaulis fruits are typically ripe during the winter, and new stems can grow from these fruits.
Specific Species Examples
- Cylindropuntia acanthocarpa: Commonly referred to as buckhorn cholla.
- Cylindropuntia bigelovii: Jumping cholla, easily recognized by its densely spiny stem segments.
- Cylindropuntia arbuscula: Bush pencil cholla, USDA zones 9-11, heat tolerant, requires little water.
- Cylindropuntia imbricata: Tree cholla.
- Cylindropuntia leptocaulis: Tasajillo, Christmas cactus, Pencil cactus, Christmas cholla, Desert Christmas cactus.
- Cylindropuntia spinosior: Cane Cholla.
- Cylindropuntia prolifera: Coastal Cholla, a native shrub in Southern California.
- Cylindropuntia wolfii: Wolf's Cholla.
Further Resources
- International Plant Names Index.
- Discover Life.