Staghorn Cholla

Description:

Highly branched woody succulent often exceeding three meters in height. The areoles are set with spines (about 7 and mostly less than 2 cm long) and minute glochids. Leaves are absent except on new spring growth where fleshy leaves appear but are soon shed. The JOINTS are often tinged purple or reddish and are typically 30 cm in length. As the species name implies, the flower color can vary widely from green, yellow, maroon, orange and red! Tubercles of fruit are usu. low. Fleshy-looking, yellow-green fruit remain on plant through the winter season. turn yellowish at maturity.

Habitat:

Sabino Canyon is a natural desert oasis located in Tucson’s Coronado National Forest and is home to spectacular desert landscapes and abundant wildlife. During the winter and summer rainy seasons, pools of water form in rocky outcroppings that wind up among hillsides resplendent with palo verde trees, cholla and prickly pear cactus and graceful groves of ocotillo.