Cylindropuntia wolfii
Encyclopedia
Cylindropuntia wolfii is a species of cactus
known by the common name Wolf's cholla.
, in the Colorado Desert
of Southern California
, and in Baja California
, Mexico
. It grows in dry, rocky desert
habitat
.
The flower is brownish purple outside to yellowish green in the center. The bumpy, spiny, dry fruit is up to 3 centimeters long.
Cactus
A cactus is a member of the plant family Cactaceae. Their distinctive appearance is a result of adaptations to conserve water in dry and/or hot environments. In most species, the stem has evolved to become photosynthetic and succulent, while the leaves have evolved into spines...
known by the common name Wolf's cholla.
Distribution
Cylindropuntia wolfii is native to Sonoran DesertSonoran Desert
The Sonoran Desert is a North American desert which straddles part of the United States-Mexico border and covers large parts of the U.S. states of Arizona and California and the northwest Mexican states of Sonora, Baja California, and Baja California Sur. It is one of the largest and hottest...
, in the Colorado Desert
Colorado Desert
California's Colorado Desert is a part of the larger Sonoran Desert, which extends across southwest North America. The Colorado Desert region encompasses approximately , reaching from the Mexican border in the south to the higher-elevation Mojave Desert in the north and from the Colorado River in...
of Southern California
Southern California
Southern California is a megaregion, or megapolitan area, in the southern area of the U.S. state of California. Large urban areas include Greater Los Angeles and Greater San Diego. The urban area stretches along the coast from Ventura through the Southland and Inland Empire to San Diego...
, and in Baja California
Baja California
Baja California officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Baja California is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is both the northernmost and westernmost state of Mexico. Before becoming a state in 1953, the area was known as the North...
, Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
. It grows in dry, rocky desert
Desert
A desert is a landscape or region that receives an extremely low amount of precipitation, less than enough to support growth of most plants. Most deserts have an average annual precipitation of less than...
habitat
Habitat
* Habitat , a place where a species lives and grows*Human habitat, a place where humans live, work or play** Space habitat, a space station intended as a permanent settlement...
.
Description
Cylindropuntia wolfii is an erect cactus which can approach 2 meters in maximum height. It has many narrow branches made up of woolly, yellowish green, cylindrical segments, the surface divided into wide tubercles bearing many brownish spines up to 3 centimeters in length.The flower is brownish purple outside to yellowish green in the center. The bumpy, spiny, dry fruit is up to 3 centimeters long.