Family Cactaceae


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Cylindropuntia acanthocarpa
Common Name(s): Buckhorn Cholla, Colorado Desert Cholla, Major Cholla, Thornber Cholla
Synonym(s): Opuntia acanthocarpa, Opuntia californica, Opuntia echinocarpa, Opuntia thornberi

C. acanthocarpa

Photo taken at: My Collection, San Clemente, CA
click any picture to enlarge

C. acanthocarpa 		Photo taken at: My Collection, San Clemente, CA

C. acanthocarpa		 Photo taken at: Anza Borrego, State Park, CA
Cylindropuntia arbuscula
Common Name(s): Branched Pencil Cholla, Bush Cholla, Pencil Cholla
Synonym(s): Opuntia arbuscula

C. arbuscula

Photo taken at: Desert Botanical Garden , Phoenix, AZ

C. arbuscula		 Photo taken at: Saguaro National Park, East Unit, AZ
Cylindropuntia bigelovii
Common Name(s): Teddy-Bear Cholla, Golden-Spined Jumping Cholla
Synonym(s): Opuntia bigelovii, Opuntia ciribe, Cylindropuntia ciribe

C. bigelovii

Photo taken at: My Collection, San Clemente, CA

C. bigelovii		 Photo taken at: Anza Borrego, State Park, CA

C. bigelovii		 Photo taken at: Joshua Tree National Park, CA
Cylindropuntia californica
Common Name(s): California Cholla
Synonym(s): Cereus californicus, Opuntia californica, Opuntia parryi, Cylindropuntia parryi, Opuntia serpentina, Opuntia bernardina, Grusonia hamiltonii, Opuntia hamiltonii, Opuntia rosarica, Cylindropuntia rosarica

C. californica

Photo taken at: Huntington Library, San Marino, CA
Cylindropuntia cholla
Common Name(s): Chain-Link Cholla
Synonym(s): Opuntia cholla

C. cholla

Photo taken at: Quail Botanical Gardens, Encinitas, CA

C. cholla		 Photo taken at: Quail Botanical Gardens, Encinitas, CA
Cylindropuntia echinocarpa
Common Name(s): Silver Cholla, Golden Cholla, Ground Cholla, Wiggin's Cholla
Synonym(s): Opuntia echinocarpa, Cactus echinocarpa, Opuntia wigginsii, Cylindropuntia wigginsii

C. echinocarpa

Photo taken at: My Collection, San Clemente, CA

C. echinocarpa		 Photo taken at: Death Valley National Park, CA

C. echinocarpa		 Photo taken at: Joshua Tree National Park, CA
Cylindropuntia fulgida
Common Name(s): Boxing-Glove Cholla, Brinkadora, Chain-Fruit Cholla, Club Cactus, Jumping Cholla, Smooth Chain-Fruit Cholla, Sonoran Jumping Cholla
Synonym(s): Opuntia fulgida, Opuntia mamillata

C. fulgida

Photo taken at: Saguaro National Park, East Unit, AZ

C. fulgida		 Photo taken at: Saguaro National Park, East Unit, AZ

C. fulgida		 Photo taken at: Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, AZ

C. fulgida		 Photo taken at: Desert Botanical Garden , Phoenix, AZ
Mutated Form
Cylindropuntia imbricata
Common Name(s): Candelabrum Cactus, Cane Cactus, Cane Cholla, Tree Cholla
Synonym(s): Cactus imbricatus, Opuntia imbricata, Opuntia arborescens, Opuntia cardenche, Cylindropuntia cardenche, Opuntia lloydii

C. imbricata

Photo taken at: Quail Botanical Gardens, Encinitas, CA

C. imbricata		 Photo taken at: Cliff & Linda Meng Private Collection, Fullerton, CA

C. imbricata		 Photo taken at: Cliff & Linda Meng Private Collection, Fullerton, CA

C. imbricata		 Photo taken at: Cliff & Linda Meng Private Collection, Fullerton, CA
Cylindropuntia leptocaulis
Common Name(s): Desert Christmas Cactus, Christmas Cholla
Synonym(s): Opuntia leptocaulis, Opuntia frutescens, Opuntia vaginata, Opuntia brittonii, Cylindorpuntia brittonii

C. leptocaulis

Photo taken at: Saguaro National Park, East Unit, AZ

C. leptocaulis		 Photo taken at: Desert Botanical Garden , Phoenix, AZ
Cylindropuntia prolifera
Common Name(s): Coastal Cholla, Jumping Cholla
Synonym(s): Opuntia prolifera

C. prolifera

Photo taken at: Ditch Near Cristianitos Exit & I-5, San Clemente, CA

C. prolifera

Photo taken at: Ditch Near Cristianitos Exit & I-5, San Clemente, CA
Cylindropuntia ramosissima
Common Name(s): Diamond Cholla, Branched Pencil Cholla
Synonym(s): Opuntia ramosissima, Opuntia tesselata

C. ramosissima

Photo taken at: St. George, UT
Crested Form

C. ramosissima

Photo taken at: St. George, UT


C. ramosissima

Photo taken at: Joshua Tree National Park, CA

C. ramosissima		 Photo taken at: Joshua Tree National Park, CA
Cylindropuntia species
Common Name(s):
Synonym(s):

C. species

Photo taken at: My Collection, San Clemente, CA
Cylindropuntia spinosior
Common Name(s): Cane Cholla, Spiny Cholla
Synonym(s): Opuntia whipplei

C. spinosior

Photo taken at: Saguaro National Park, East Unit, AZ

C. spinosior

Photo taken at: Saguaro National Park, East Unit, AZ
Cylindropuntia versicolor
Common Name(s): Morada Cholla, Staghorn Cholla
Synonym(s): Opuntia versicolor

C. versicolor

Photo taken at: Saguaro National Park, East Unit, AZ

C. versicolor

Photo taken at: Saguaro National Park, East Unit, AZ
*Currently 14 of 42 known species shown in this genus.