Cylindropuntia versicolor

Read about Cylindropuntia versicolor in the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture

Opuntia versicolor, Engelm. A small, numerously branched tree, 6-10 ft. high, with rounded head and a short trunk, having smooth, light brown or reddish brown, unarmed bark: joints much elongated, usually 6-12 in. long, sometimes 20, ⅔-¾ in. thick, deep green, more or less colored with red and purple: areoles with short gray wool and lighter colored bristles; spines variable, on terminal joints, usually from 5-13, older joints with 10-20, rarely, however, increasing in numbers after the second year, reddish brown, with inconspicuous, close-fitting sheaths, ¾ in. or less long: fls. bronze-colored, 1-1½ in. wide: fr. pyriform to clavate of same color as joints, never yellow, sometimes tinged with red or purple, unarmed or with a few persistent short spines, 1-2 in. long. Ariz., N. Mex. The above text is from the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture. It may be out of date, but still contains valuable and interesting information which can be incorporated into the remainder of the article. Click on "Collapse" in the header to hide this text.