Cylindropuntia

<i>Cylindropuntia</i>

Cylindropuntia

Genus of cacti

Cylindropuntia is a genus of cacti (family Cactaceae), containing species commonly known as chollas (/ˈtʃɔɪəz/), native to northern Mexico and the Southwestern United States. They are known for their barbed spines that tenaciously attach to skin, fur, and clothing. Stands of cholla are called cholla gardens. Individuals within these colonies often exhibit the same DNA, as they were formerly tubercles of an original plant.

Quick Facts Cholla, Scientific classification ...

Taxonomy

Cylindropuntia was formerly treated as a subgenus of Opuntia, but have now been separated based on their cylindrical stems (Opuntia species have flattened stems) and the presence of papery epidermal sheaths on the spines (Opuntia has no sheaths).[1] A few species of mat- or clump-forming opuntioid cacti are currently placed in the genus Grusonia. Collectively, opuntias, chollas, and related plants are sometimes called opuntiads.[2]

The roughly 35 species of Cylindropuntia are native to the southwestern and south-central United States, Mexico, and the West Indies. The Flora of North America recognizes 22 species.[3] Some species have been introduced to South America (Chile, Ecuador, Peru) and South Africa.[3]

Species

As of July 2019, Plants of the World Online accepts the following species:[4]

More information Scientific name, Common name ...

Hybrids

Some hybrids are also known:[4]

  • Cylindropuntia × antoniae P.V.Heath
  • Cylindropuntia × campii (M.A.Baker & Pinkava) M.A.Baker & Pinkava
  • Cylindropuntia × cardenche (Griffiths) F.M.Knuth
  • Cylindropuntia × congesta (Griffiths) F.M.Knuth
  • Cylindropuntia × deserta (Griffiths) Pinkava
  • Cylindropuntia × grantiorum P.V.Heath
  • Cylindropuntia × kelvinensis (V.E.Grant & K.A.Grant) P.V.Heath
  • Cylindropuntia × neoarbuscula (Griffiths) F.M.Knuth
  • Cylindropuntia × pallida (Rose) F.M.Knuth
  • Cylindropuntia × tetracantha (Toumey) F.M.Knuth
  • Cylindropuntia × viridiflora (Britton & Rose) F.M.Knuth
  • Cylindropuntia × vivipara (Rose) F.M.Knuth

Cholla wood in pet trade

Dried, dead Cylindropuntia sections are called "cholla wood" and are popular in the pet trade. In aquariums they are immersed partly or entirely into the water for pets to swim through, and in terrariums and other terrestrial pet enclosures they are placed and propped up for climbing.

Notes

  1. A binomial authority in parentheses indicates that the species was originally described in a genus other than Cylindropuntia.

References

  1. [1]
    Pinkava, Donald J. (1999). "Cactaceae Cactus Family, Part Three: Cylindropuntia (Engelm.) Knuth Chollas". Journal of the Arizona-Nevada Academy of Science. 32 (1, Vascular Plants of Arizona: Part 5). Arizona-Nevada Academy of Sciences: 32–47. JSTOR 40024914.
  2. [2]
    "Opuntia". Opuntiads.com. Opuntia Web. 2017.
  3. [3]
    Flora of North America Editorial Committee, eds. 1993+. Flora of North America North of Mexico. 16+ vols. New York and Oxford.
  4. [4]
    "Cylindropuntia (Engelm.) F.M.Knuth". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 2019-07-05.
  5. [5]
    "Opuntia". Desert Tropicals. Philippe Faucon. 1998–2004. Archived from the original on 2008-09-14. Retrieved 2007-10-16.
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