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Cylindropuntia whipplei - whipple cholla

Plant type
Cacti
Scientific Family
Cactaceae

Plant Description

Origin
Native

An upright cactus with one to several main stems and numerous short stem segments. Stems are cylindrical, 2 to 12 inches long, 1/2 inch thick and covered with tubercles or small, wart-like projections.

Height
2 to 4-1/2 feet
Width
Varies - can grow in thick groups

Habitat

Plant Community
Grasslands
Pinyon Juniper Woodlands
Low elevation
4500
High elevation
7000

Flowers

Flower color
Yellow
First bloom month
June
Last bloom month
July

Flowers are pale yellow, 1 inch wide and in groups of three.

Stems

Stem Color
Green to purple
Segmented Stems
No

Stems are segmented, each segment is 1 to 6 inches long with oval bumps (tubercles) that are longer than they are wide; spines do not obscure the color of the stems; there are more spines towards the tip of the stems.

Areoles

These are structures unique to cacti, found on the stems, areas from which spines, flowers and fruits emerge.

Spine color
White to pinkish tan
Spines hooked
No
Glochids
No

Needlelike; 7 to 14 spines per areole with one long spine in cluster to 2 inches long.

Fruit

Fruit color
Yellow

Spineless, nearly round to egg-shapped fruit to 1-1/4 inches long and 3/4 inch wide.