Cylindropuntia spinosior

Read about Cylindropuntia spinosior in the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture

Opuntia spinosior, Tourney. A small tree, 6-12 ft. high, with numerous verticillate branches, forming a rounded head, the cylindrical trunk usually branching a few feet above the ground, and with rough, dark brown or grayish unarmed bark: joints verticillate and pendulous, ultimate ones usually 4-8 in. long and about 1 in. thick, dark green, frequently more or less purplish, with short, crowded rhombic tubercles: areoles with white to reddish brown wool and usually few, small, variously colored bristles; spines 10-30, increasing in number yearly as the joints become older until finally deciduous, short, and rarely conspicuously sheathed, usually ½-¾ in. long: fls. showy, bright to dark purple, 2-2½ in. wide, in whorls at the ends of the joints: fr. elliptical to oblong, rarely obovate to globose, 1½-2½ in. long, yellow, frequently remaining on the stems during the second year. 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 It may be out of date, but still contains valuable and interesting information which can be incorporated into the remainder of the article.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.