Cacti / Desert Succulents

Prickly Pear

NPS

A cactus is a member of the family Cactaceae. The park has multiple species, including cholla, prickly pear, paperspine, and hedgehog. Cactuses are adapted to conserve water. The thickened, fleshy part stores water. The spines (highly modified leaves) protect against herbivores, deflect drying winds, and provide shade. The succulent stems carry out photosynthesis. Cactuses are native to the Americas from Patagonia to northern Canada.

 

NPS/Hallie Larsen

Walking Stick Cholla (Cylindropuntia spinosior) is the tallest of the branched chollas in the park. It easily spreads through pups, although the branches are firmly attached. The flowers are magenta with yellow centers, becoming yellow fruit that linger. It is a good food for animals in the winter.

 

Whipple’s Cholla (Cylindropuntia whipplei) is a low growing, branched cactus with cylindrical stems. The stems can be green or purplish. The silky-petaled flowers are chartreuse green with yellow filaments within. The fruit are bumpy and yellow, often staying into the next year. Pronghorn browse on this plant.
Cactus Family Cactaceae
Blooms June and July

 

NPS/Hallie Larsen

This Pink-Flower Hedgehog Cactus (Echinocereus fendleri) has had a rough year. The mature stems are turning maroon and slumping. A new stem is forming under the blossoms. The silky magenta petals are dusted with abundant pollen. The loose clumps can have up to twenty stems, while this one had five, two of which have died and fallen off the cliff. Each areole has 4-12 mostly straight spines, some of the central ones tending to be darker with lighter radial ones.

 

Claret-cup Hedgehog (Echinocereus triglochidiatus ssp. mojavensis) has cylindrical stems that form clumps. The scarlet trumpet-shaped blossoms can put on a spectacular show. Blooms May into June.

 

NPS/Hallie Larsen

Spinystar (Escobaria vivipara) is a small round cactus that can form mounds. The spines form beautiful starbursts, spines radiating from a central point. The flowers are a deep rose with narrow pointed petals.

 

NPS/Hallie Larsen

Starvation Prickly Pear (Opuntia polyacantha) is the most common of the prickly pears in the park. The small, low growing pads are covered with long spines. The silky flowers vary even on the same plant from bright yellow through champagne to hot pink.

 

NPS/Hallie Larsen

Whipple's Fishhook Cactus (Sclerocactus whipplei) is a small globular cactus, here in a cluster. The petals are translucent butter yellow.