Buckhorn Cholla
Cylindropuntia acanthocarpa
Photographed along Fish Creek, Superstition Mountains, Arizona, USA. 07 Nov. 2018. These developing fruits will soon turn brown and shrivel. Notice spines at the fruit areoles.
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JOINTS: The stems are succulent and formed into cylindrical
joints mostly less than 30 cm long
and 2½ to 5 cm in
diameter. The tubercles on the joints are conspicuously raised and elongate.
FRUIT: Mature fruit turns dry and brown and is set with spines as well as glochids.
RANGE: North and east of the Phoenix area this cactus can be found on drier sites within
canyons as well as a component of grass and chaparral habitats. Southeast of Mesa and Tucson Staghorn and Cane Chollas
are found instead.
SHRUB: Normally a shrub rarely surpassing
2 m tall. Occasionally with a distinct central trunk.
FLOWERS: Numerous petals are variable in color ranging red,
yellow, orange or purplish.
SPINES: Up to two dozen per areole, 30 mm long, silvery or tan
but turning dark with age.
Cactaceae -- Cactus Family
More Information:
- SEINET - Southwest Environmental Information Network
- Firefly Forest - -Tucson
- USDA Plant Profile
- Cultivation Information
- Google Images
- Google Scholar Literature Search