Cylindropuntia echinocarpa
Encyclopedia
Cylindropuntia echinocarpa is a species of cactus
known by the common names Silver cholla, Golden cholla, and Wiggins' cholla.
, where it can be found the Sonoran Desert
, the Mojave Desert
and Colorado Desert
in California
, and other deserts.
.
Cactus
A cactus is a member of the plant family Cactaceae. Their distinctive appearance is a result of adaptations to conserve water in dry and/or hot environments. In most species, the stem has evolved to become photosynthetic and succulent, while the leaves have evolved into spines...
known by the common names Silver cholla, Golden cholla, and Wiggins' cholla.
Distribution
Cylindropuntia echinocarpa is native to the Southwestern United StatesSouthwestern United States
The Southwestern United States is a region defined in different ways by different sources. Broad definitions include nearly a quarter of the United States, including Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas and Utah...
, where it can be found the Sonoran Desert
Sonoran Desert
The Sonoran Desert is a North American desert which straddles part of the United States-Mexico border and covers large parts of the U.S. states of Arizona and California and the northwest Mexican states of Sonora, Baja California, and Baja California Sur. It is one of the largest and hottest...
, the Mojave Desert
Mojave Desert
The Mojave Desert occupies a significant portion of southeastern California and smaller parts of central California, southern Nevada, southwestern Utah and northwestern Arizona, in the United States...
and Colorado Desert
Colorado Desert
California's Colorado Desert is a part of the larger Sonoran Desert, which extends across southwest North America. The Colorado Desert region encompasses approximately , reaching from the Mexican border in the south to the higher-elevation Mojave Desert in the north and from the Colorado River in...
in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, and other deserts.
Description
Cylindropuntia echinocarpa is a large treelike cactus known to well exceed two meters in height. Its stem and branches are made up of cylindrical segments, the surface arranged in green tubercles up to 1.5 centimeters wide and just under a centimeter tall. The fleshy tubercles each bear up to 20 long, straight grayish or yellowish spines which may be nearly 4 centimeters long. The flower is usually greenish yellow, sometimes pinkish or brownish in color. The is a bumpy, spiny tan fruit is up to 2 centimeters long and has a scent reminiscent of rancid butterButter
Butter is a dairy product made by churning fresh or fermented cream or milk. It is generally used as a spread and a condiment, as well as in cooking applications, such as baking, sauce making, and pan frying...
.