Cylindropuntia leptocaulis

Common Name: Desert Christmas Cholla
Oˊodham Name: Aj Wipinoi Audio
Group: Cacti － Desert (near washes)

Description

Cylindropuntia leptocaulis is a low, shrubby cholla cactus that grows at 1500 to 3500 ft elevation near washes and in protected areas that hold extra soil moisture. The plant may have short spines or very long spines that release papery sheaths in the Spring. Pale yellow green flowers open late in the afternoon and lead to spiny red fruit that ripen near yearˊs end. Also see Cylindropuntia arbuscula.

entire plant
stem and spines
flower (afternoon)

Classification

Kingdom Plantae － Plants

Subkingdom Tracheobionta － Vascular plants

Superdivision Spermatophyta － Seed plants

Division Magnoliophyta － Flowering plants

Class Magnoliopsida － Dicotyledons

Subclass Caryophyllidae

Order Caryophyllales

Family Cactaceae － Cactus family

Genus Cylindropuntia (Engelm.) Kreuzinger － cholla

Species Cylindropuntia leptocaulis (DC.) F.M. Knuth － Christmas cholla

More Information

USDA Plant Profile and Map