Cylindropuntia


Cylindropuntia is a genus of cacti, containing species commonly known as chollas, 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.

Taxonomy

Cylindropuntia was formerly treated as a subgenus of Opuntia, but have now been separated based on their cylindrical stems and the presence of papery epidermal sheaths on the spines. 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.
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. Some species have been introduced to South America and South Africa.

Species

, Plants of the World Online accepts the following species:
Scientific nameCommon namePicture
Cylindropuntia abyssi Backeb.Peach Springs cholla
Cylindropuntia acanthocarpa Engelm. & J.M. BigelowBuckhorn cholla
Cylindropuntia alcahes F.M. KnuthClavellina cholla
Cylindropuntia anteojoensis E.F. Anderson
Cylindropuntia arbuscula F.M. KnuthArizona pencil cholla
Cylindropuntia bigelovii F.M.KnuthTeddy-bear cholla
Cylindropuntia californica F.M.KnuthCalifornia cholla
Snake cholla
Cane cholla
Cylindropuntia calmalliana F.M.Knuth
Cylindropuntia caribaea F.M. Knuth
Cylindropuntia cedrosensis Rebman
Cylindropuntia cholla F.M. KnuthChain-link cholla
Cylindropuntia chuckwallensis M.A.Baker & Cloud-H.
Cylindropuntia ciribe F.M.Knuth
Cylindropuntia davisii F.M. Knuth
Cylindropuntia echinocarpa F.M.KnuthSilver cholla
Golden cholla
Wiggins' cholla
Cylindropuntia fosbergii Rebman, M.A. Baker & PinkavaHoffmann's teddybear cholla
Pink teddy-bear cholla
Mason Valley cholla
Cylindropuntia fulgida Engelm.Jumping cholla
Hanging chain cholla
Cylindropuntia ganderi Rebman & PinkavGander cholla
Gander's buckhorn cholla
Cylindropuntia hystrix Areces
Cylindropuntia imbricata Haw. Cane cholla
Walking stick cholla
Tree cholla
Cylindropuntia kleiniae F.M. Knuth
Cylindropuntia leptocaulis F.M.KnuthDesert Christmas cholla
Tasajillo
Cylindropuntia libertadensis Rebman
Cylindropuntia lindsayi Rebman
Cylindropuntia molesta F.M.KnuthAgujilla
Cylindropuntia multigeniculata Backeb.
Cylindropuntia munzii Backeb.
Cylindropuntia prolifera F.M.KnuthCoastal cholla
Cylindropuntia ramosissima F.M.KnuthBranched pencil cholla
Diamond cholla
Cylindropuntia rosea Backeb.
Cylindropuntia sanfelipensis Rebman
Cylindropuntia santamaria Rebman
Cylindropuntia spinosior F.M.KnuthTasajo cholla
Cylindropuntia tesajo F.M. Knuth
Cylindropuntia thurberi F.M. Knuth
Cylindropuntia tunicata F.M.KnuthSheathed cholla
Cylindropuntia versicolor F.M. KnuthStaghorn cholla
Cylindropuntia waltoniorum Rebman
Cylindropuntia whipplei F.M.KnuthRat-tail cholla
Cylindropuntia wolfii J. Rebman – unplaced nameWolf's cholla

Hybrids

Some hybrids are also known: