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Cactus Gallery

Pencil-shaped Stems

Cactus are strictly an American Continent (North and South) drought tolerant plant.  They come in a vast array of shapes and sizes, a few don't even have thorns.  Most have incredibly beautiful flowers.  Some cannot tolerate cold while others thrive only in the mountains.  Many of these plants are protected against poaching by federal law.

Cactaceae - Cactus family

Tasajillo (Tasajo, Jumping Cactus, Christmas Cactus, Pencil Cactus) Opuntia leptocaulis (Cylindropuntia leptocaulis)

Flowers are greenish and 3/4" wide and are rarely seen.  Red fruit is about 1/2" long teardrops.  Long spines are sheathed in a paper-like coating.  Spine tips have hooks to grab you.  Plant shown is about 3 feet tall.

Flower photos taken in Coleman County, Texas, May 2004

Flower photos taken in Taylor County, Texas, June 2006

Fruiting photos taken in Taylor County, Texas, April & May 2004

(Native of Texas, all but the Pineywoods and Post Oak Savannah of Texas)

Cactaceae - Cactus family

Tree Cholla Opuntia imbricata (Cylindropuntia imbricata, O. arborescens, Cereus imbricatus)

Flower about 2" wide.  Long cylindrical stem segments grow from a few inches to many feet long.  The stems joint each growing season and have raised areas called tubercles where the spines are located.  When the stems die the woody skeleton looks like a stick covered in holes. Segments and spines pull off easily and can start new trees easily.  Closely related to Prickly Pears.

Photos taken in Taylor County, Texas, May 2005

(Native of Texas but not of Taylor Co.)

Similar Species

Devil's Cholla Opuntia emoryi (O. kunzei)

(Trans Pacos of Texas)

Brittle Prickly Pear (Little Prickly Pear) Opuntia fragilis var. fragilis

Plant shrubby, very low growing. Stems segments usually less than 5 cm long to 2.5 cm wide, thick and not strongly flattened, terminal pads detach easily. Leaves (when present) conical to 3 mm long. Areoles 3-6-8 mm apart, with brown to tan glochids and 1-6 barbed spines spreading straight, from 1-3 cm long. Flowers yellowish, sometimes greenish 3-4 cm long to 4 cm in diameter. Fruits ovoid, green or reddish green.

(Panhandle of Texas, north into Canada, west into California)

Dog Cholla (Graham Prickly Pear) Opuntia grahamii (O. schottii var. grahamii, Grusonia grahamii)

Narrow cylindrical joints.  Long spines.  Peach colored flower

(Edwards Plateau and Trans Pecos of Texas)

Candle Cholla (Kleine Cholla, Tasajillo) Opuntia kleiniae var. kleiniae

(Edwards Plateau, Cross Timbers, and Trans Pacos of Texas)

Sheathed Cholla Opuntia tunicata (O. tunicata var. davisii, O. tunicata var. tunicata)

(Edwards Plateau, Cross Timbers, Panhandle, and Trans Pecos of Texas)

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