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Cylindropuntia ramosissima (Engelm.) F.M. Knuth

Diamond cholla, diamond-plated pencil cholla, branched pencil cholla, diamond-plated penc

ParentsUnknownGenus is not in the current taxonomy
GenusCylindropuntiafrom the Greek kylindros, “a cylinder,” plus genus Opuntia, this is now the new genus of the so-called ‘true chollas’
SpeciesramosissimaVery branched

About plant names...

Diamond cholla is so named because the pattern of bumps (technically tubercules) along the stem segments is diamond-shaped. The "pencil" in other common names refers to the narrow, pencil-like stems.

Identification: Diamond cholla is multiply branched, resembling either a shrub or a small tree, 1½-6½′ (50-200 cm) tall. Stem segments are ¾-4″ (2-10 cm) long, and only ⅛-⅜″ (4-10 mm) in diameter. Unusually long spines ⅞-2″ (2.5-6 cm) long occur in groups of one to five. The spine groups are widely spaced, and the spines are tan to reddish brown or deep purple, and finally to gray. Flowers are brown, tinged with red; sometimes orange or pink. Fruits or oval-shaped, tan, ½-1″ (1.5-3 cm) × ⅜-½″ (1-1.5 cm).

References:

Anderson, Edward F., The Cactus Family, Timber Press, 2001, p. 212

Online References:

Desert-tropicals.com

SEINet—the Southwest Environmental Information Network

The Arizona Sonora Desert Museum Sonoran Desert Digital Library

Wayne's Word

CactiGuide.com

The Anza-Borrego Desert Natural History Association

The Jepson Manual

EFloras

Cylindropuntia ramosissima (diamond cholla, diamond-plated pencil cholla, branched pencil cholla, diamond-plated penc)

5/2/2018 · Bajada Trail, Joshua Tree National Park, Cali­fornia · ≈ 10 × 6″ (24 × 16 cm)

Cylindropuntia ramosissima (diamond cholla, diamond-plated pencil cholla, branched pencil cholla, diamond-plated penc)

4/30/2018 · Kelbaker Road, Mojave National Preserve, Cali­fornia · ≈ 7 × 4½″ (18 × 12 cm)

Cylindropuntia ramosissima (diamond cholla, diamond-plated pencil cholla, branched pencil cholla, diamond-plated penc)

4/30/2018 · Kelbaker Road, Mojave National Preserve, Cali­fornia

Cylindropuntia ramosissima (diamond cholla, diamond-plated pencil cholla, branched pencil cholla, diamond-plated penc)

2/28/2010 · Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Cali­fornia · ≈ 2 × 1′ (62 × 41 cm)

Cylindropuntia ramosissima (diamond cholla, diamond-plated pencil cholla, branched pencil cholla, diamond-plated penc)

2/17/2007 · Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Cali­fornia

Opuntia ramosissima Engelm.

 

Cylindropuntia ramosissima description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 25 May 2020.

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Cylindropuntia ramosissima (diamond cholla, diamond-plated pencil cholla, branched pencil cholla, diamond-plated penc)

2/28/2010 · Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Cali­fornia · ≈ 2 × 1′ (62 × 41 cm)

Cylindropuntia ramosissima (diamond cholla, diamond-plated pencil cholla, branched pencil cholla, diamond-plated penc)

2/17/2007 · Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Cali­fornia

Cylindropuntia ramosissima (diamond cholla, diamond-plated pencil cholla, branched pencil cholla, diamond-plated penc)

4/30/2018 · Kelbaker Road, Mojave National Preserve, Cali­fornia · ≈ 7 × 4½″ (18 × 12 cm)

Cylindropuntia ramosissima (diamond cholla, diamond-plated pencil cholla, branched pencil cholla, diamond-plated penc)

5/2/2018 · Bajada Trail, Joshua Tree National Park, Cali­fornia · ≈ 10 × 6″ (24 × 16 cm)

Cylindropuntia ramosissima (diamond cholla, diamond-plated pencil cholla, branched pencil cholla, diamond-plated penc)

4/30/2018 · Kelbaker Road, Mojave National Preserve, Cali­fornia · ≈ 10 × 6″ (24 × 16 cm)

Cylindropuntia ramosissima (diamond cholla, diamond-plated pencil cholla, branched pencil cholla, diamond-plated penc)

5/2/2018 · Bajada Trail, Joshua Tree National Park, Cali­fornia

Range: Zones 8a-11:

About this map...