Branched pencil cholla, Diamond cholla
Cylindropuntia ramosissima

Family: Cactaceae

What it is like

A bushy cactus. It grows about 60 cm high. The joints are greyish-green. They are slender and 5-10 cm long. They spread to form dense spiny clumps. The joints are 5-6 mm thick. They have a woody core. There is usually only one spine per 5 cm and this quickly falls off. The flowers are 4 cm long by 1-2 cm wide. They are greenish yellow.

There are about 250 Opuntia species.

Where it is found

It needs full sunlight. It needs a temperature above 10°C.

Countries/locations it is found in

Mexico, North America, USA

How it is used for food

The fruit are dried and stored for later use. The stalks are dried and stored for later use. The fruit are eaten fresh. The stalks with the thorns removed are boiled into a soup.

Edible parts

Fruit, seeds, stem

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Opuntia ramosissima Engelm.; Opuntia tesselata Engelm.;