Buckthorn cholla, Colorado desert cholla
Cylindropuntia acanthocarpa

Family: Cactaceae

What it is like

A cactus. A shrubby or tree-like plant. It can have few or many branches. They are 1-4 m long. The stem segments are firmly attached. They are cylinder shaped and 10-50 cm long by 2-3 cm across. The buds are round and have white wool. The small barbed spines are yellow or brown. There are 6-20 spines. The flowers can be red or yellow. They are 2-3 cm long. The fruit are dry and light brown.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant.

Countries/locations it is found in

Mexico, North America, USA

How it is used for food

The flower buds are eaten after roasting. The fruit are gathered and eaten fresh or dried and stored.

Edible parts

Flower buds

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Major cholla, Thornber cholla

Synonyms

Opuntia acanthocarpa Engelmann & Bigelow; Opuntia californica Engelmann; Opuntia echincarpa var. major Engelmann; Opuntia acanthocarpa var. major (Engel.) L.D.Benson; Cylindropuntia acanthocarpa var. major (Engel.) Pinkava; Opuntia thornberi Thornber & Bonker; Opuntia acanthocarpa var. thornberi (Thornber & Bonker) Backenberg; Opuntia acanthocarpa var. coloradensis L.D. Benson; Cylindropuntia acanthocarpa var. coloradensis (L.D. Benson) Pinkava;