Trails List - Cactus

Cactus

Cholla cactus represent more than 20 species of the Opuntia genus (subspecies Cylindropuntia) of which 8 species are represented in the Superstition area. Cholla is a term applied to various shrubby cacti of this genus with cylindrical stems composed of segmented stems. Chollas have tubercles that are small, wart-like projections on the stems from which sharp spines (modified leaves) grow. But chollas are the only cactus with papery sheaths covering their spines. These sheaths are often bright and colorful, providing the cactus with its distinctive appearance. Today’s O’odham people still pit-roast or boil the cholla buds, which taste like asparagus tips. Click here for the detailed Cholla page.

Buckhorn Cholla (Cylindropuntia acanthocarpa)
Cane Cholla (Cylindropuntia spinosior)
Chain-fruit Cholla (Cylindropuntia fulgida) also called Jumping Cholla
Christmas Cholla (Cylindropuntia leptocaulis), also called Christmas Cactus
Pencil Cholla (Cylindropuntia arbuscula)
Staghorn Cholla (Cylindropuntia versicolor)
Teddy Bear Cholla (Cylindropuntia bigelovii)
Whipple Cholla (Cylindropuntia whipplei)

Cholla Cactus

Hedgehog Cactus

Echinocereus is a genus of ribbed, usually small to medium-sized cylindrical cacti, comprising about 70 species of which 4 (and their several sub-species) can be found in the Superstition Mountains area. Usually the flowers are large and the fruit edible. This common, widespread variety is characterized by low clumps of cylindrical or conical stems, sometimes containing a hundred or more plants, and conspicuous red or pink flowers - some of the largest and brightest blooms of any cactus. They grow over a wide range of environments, from the low, hot deserts to cool mountain slopes, but most prefer unshaded conditions. Spines are arranged along vertical ribs, and are always straight, never hooked. Click here for the detailed Hedgehog page.

"Echinos" is Greek for "Hedgehog" and "cereus" is Latin for "candle" or "waxy".

Strawberry hedgehog (Echinocereus engelmannii) is one of the most common of the hedgehog cacti. The flowers are bright purple to magenta.
Spiny hedgehog (Echinocereus dasyacanthus) cactus has predominantly yellow flowers.
Pinkflower hedgehog (Echinocereus fasciculatus) cactus has brilliant magenta pink flowers.
Kingcup cactus (Echinocereus triglochidiatus) flowers are orange or red.

See here for more detailed information.

Hedgehog Cactus

Pincushion Cactus

Pincushion Cactus Even after duplicate names are sorted out, Mammillaria is the largest of several genera of diminutive cacti with about 175 species worldwide. About 25 described species occur in the Sonoran Desert. The Sonoran Desert species are less than 6 inches tall, with closely-spaced areoles bearing many spines that obscure the body of the plant. The areoles are at the tips of long tubercles that are arranged in 2 spirals (one clockwise, the other counterclockwise). These tuberculate stems contrast with the ribbed stems of the genus Echinocereus. In addition, many mammillarias have hooked central spines, whereas no hedgehog does. Plants range from single stems to large clusters, depending on species. Flowers, usually less than an inch in diameter and either pink or white, are produced in a ring near the tip of the stem.

The name Mammillaria comes from the Latin for "nipple", because the areolas (structures carrying the spines) are carried by nipple like structures instead of being organized in ribs like many other cacti. Another significant difference is that the flowers do not arise from the areola, but from the area at the juncture of 2 tubercles.

There are at least 2 species in the Superstition Mountain area; (See here for more detailed information.)

Arizona Fishhook Cactus (Mammillaria microcarpa)

Common fishhook (Mammillaria tetrancistra)

Prickly Pear Cactus

Prickly pear cactus represents about 37 species of the Opuntia genus (Family Cactaceae) in the North American deserts of which there are about 4 in the Superstition Mountains area. All have flat, fleshy pads that look like large leaves. The pads are actually modified branches or stems that serve several functions -- water storage, photosynthesis and flower production. Prickly pears typically grow with flat, rounded pads (cladodes) armed with two kinds of spines; large, smooth, fixed spines and small, hairlike prickles called glochids, that easily penetrate skin and detach from the plant. Found just above the cluster of regular spines, glochids are yellow or red in color. Many types of prickly pears grow into dense, tangled structures. Most prickly pear cactus have yellow, red or purple flowers, even among the same species. They vary in height from less than a foot to 6 or 7 feet. Pads can vary in width, length, shape and color. Some are regarded as spineless, but all have glochids.

Brown-Spined Prickly Pear (Opuntia phaeacantha)
Englemann's Prickly Pear (Opuntia engelmannii)
Pancake Prickly Pear (Opuntia chlorotica)
Tuberous Prickly Pear (Opuntia macrorhiza)

See here for more information.

Prickly Pear Cactus

Google Sites

Report abuse