Cylindropuntia

Taxonomy

Cylindropuntia was formerly treated as a subgenus of Opuntia, but have now been separated based on their cylindrical stems (Opuntia species have flattened stems) and the presence of papery epidermal sheaths on the spines (Opuntia has no sheaths). A few species of mat- or clump-forming opuntioid cacti are currently placed in the genus Grusonia. Collectively, opuntias, chollas, and related plants are sometimes called opuntiads.

The roughly 35 species of Cylindropuntia are native to the southwestern and south-central United States, Mexico, and the West Indies. The Flora of North America recognizes 22 species. Some species have been introduced to South America (Chile, Ecuador, Peru) and South Africa.

Species

As of July 2019, Plants of the World Online accepts the following species:

Hybrids

Some hybrids are also known:

• Cylindropuntia × antoniae P.V.Heath
• Cylindropuntia × campii (M.A.Baker & Pinkava) M.A.Baker & Pinkava
• Cylindropuntia × cardenche (Griffiths) F.M.Knuth
• Cylindropuntia × congesta (Griffiths) F.M.Knuth
• Cylindropuntia × deserta (Griffiths) Pinkava
• Cylindropuntia × grantiorum P.V.Heath
• Cylindropuntia × kelvinensis (V.E.Grant & K.A.Grant) P.V.Heath
• Cylindropuntia × neoarbuscula (Griffiths) F.M.Knuth
• Cylindropuntia × pallida (Rose) F.M.Knuth
• Cylindropuntia × tetracantha (Toumey) F.M.Knuth
• Cylindropuntia × viridiflora (Britton & Rose) F.M.Knuth
• Cylindropuntia × vivipara (Rose) F.M.Knuth