Opuntia echinocarpa (Silver Cholla)

Photographs

My photos:

This photograph was taken at Joshua Tree in March.

More photos:

click photo to enlarge

Plant Information

Cactaceae

In the garden:

This is an erect, intricately-branched cholla, with a short woody trunk and a dense crown of cylindrical branches. It grows up to 5 feet tall. Joints are detachable and armed with silvery or golden spines. Flowers appear in clusters at the ends of branches in April and May, with greenish-yellow petals (the outer petals are sometimes streaked with red). Once established, it will require little or no water.

In the wild:

It occurs in dry washes and mesas, below 6000 feet.

Ethnobotany:

Field Trips
Anza Borrego Caspers Holy Jim Canyon Idyllwild
Joshua Tree Mt Palomar Rancho Santa Ana Torrey Pines

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