Cylindropuntia californica

Cylindropuntia californica
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Order:	Caryophyllales
Family:	Cactaceae
Genus:	Cylindropuntia
Species:	C. californica
Binomial name
Cylindropuntia californica (Torr. & A.Gray) F.M.Knuth
Synonyms
Opuntia parryi

Cylindropuntia californica is a species of cactus known by the common names California cholla, snake cholla, and cane cholla.

Distribution[]

Cylindropuntia californica is native to southern California and Baja California, where it grows in coastal sage scrub, chaparral, and other local habitat.

Description[]

Cylindropuntia californica is a sprawling cactus which can approach 3 meters in maximum height or width. The green or purple-tinged segments are narrow and cylindrical, surfaced in fleshy tubercles bearing many gray or reddish spines up to 3 centimeters long. The flowers are yellow, sometimes tinged with green or purple. The fruit is dry, leathery, greenish or yellow, and up to 2 or 3 centimeters in length.

Varieties[]

• Cylindropuntia californica var. californica — Santa Ana Mountains, Southern Coast, northern Baja California.^[1][2]
• Cylindropuntia californica var. parkeri — 700–1,900 metres (2,300–6,200 ft); Transverse Ranges, Peninsular Ranges, Colorado Desert-chaparral ecotone; northern Baja California.^[3][4]

References[]

External links[]

• Cylindropuntia californica photo gallery at Opuntia Web
• Jepson Manual Treatment: Cylindropuntia californica
• Flora of North America: Cylindropuntia californica
• Cylindropuntia californica — UC Photo gallery

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