Whipple Cholla
Cylindropuntia whipplei

Family: Cactaceae

What it is like

A bushy cactus. It is straggling and 1 m high. The joints are dull green and 5-30 cm long by 2 cm wide. There are lumps about 1 cm long and wide. There are 6-10 spines in a spine spot. They are 2.5-5 cm long and have strong barbs. The flowers are pale yellow. They are 3 cm across. The fruit are dry and very spiny. They are 2.5-3 cm long by 1.5-3 cm wide.

There are about 250 Opuntia species.

Where it is found

It needs sun. It grows in dry rocky areas. 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 can be eaten raw or stewed. They can also be dried for later use after the spines are rubbed off. The seeds can be parched and dried and eaten.

Edible parts

Fruit, pads, seeds

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Opuntia echinocarpa var. wolfei L.D. Benson; Opuntia wolfii (L.D. Benson) M.A. Baker;