Corynopuntia wrightiana

Baxter. 1935. California Cactus: a Complete and Scientific Record of the Cacti Native in California, 58-59.

Herbarium specimen; Herbarium specimen; Herbarium specimen; Herbarium specimen; Herbarium specimen; Herbarium specimen; Herbarium specimen; Herbarium specimen; Herbarium specimen

Original species description

What is Corynopuntia wrightiana?

Corynopuntia wrightiana is a dog cholla that grows in southwestern AZ and eastern CA. It is a taller plant than other Corynopuntia species, forming small shrub-clumps to 50-60 cm tall.

Details

C. wrightiana plants spread to 1 m and often grow in colonies–they may be visible from a distance. Cladodes are less than 30 cm long and about 2-4 cm wide. Cladodes may be upright or procumbent and arise from the base or lower part of other cladodes. Tubercles are 6-7 mm wide by 2.5 cm in length; they can become confluent and form ribs. Areoles bear few if any glochids. There may be one central spine, up to six subcentrals, and up to 14 radial spines. Spines are reddish when young but age to whitish. C. wrightiana is diploid, whereas the similar-appearing C. keunzei is tetraploid.

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