Cylindropuntia leptocaulis

(DC.) F. M. Knuth

Christmas cactus

Cactaceae Edible: Fruit 22,391 iNaturalist observations

iNaturalist· cc-by-nc-sa

iNaturalist· cc-by-nc

Summary

Cylindropuntia leptocaulis, the desert Christmas cactus, desert Christmas cholla, pencil cactus, or tasajillo, is a species of cholla cactus.

Description

A cactus.

This description is brief — help expand it

Edible Uses

The fruits are crushed and mixed with a beverage by the Apache, Chiricahua, and Mescalero to produce narcotic effects.

Traditional Uses

The fruit have the thorns removed and are then eaten raw.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Distribution

It is a subtropical plant.

Where It Grows

Mexico, North America, USA,

Synonyms

Cylindropuntia brittonii (J. G. Ortega) Backeb.Cylindropuntia leptocaulis var. badia (A. Berger) F. M. KnuthCylindropuntia leptocaulis var. brevispina (Engelm.) F. M. KnuthCylindropuntia leptocaulis var. glauca Backeb.Cylindropuntia leptocaulis var. longispina (Engelm.) F. M. KnuthCylindropuntia leptocaulis var. robustior (A. Berger) F. M. KnuthCylindropuntia leptocaulis var. vaginata (Engelm.) F. M. KnuthCylindropuntia mortolensis (Britton & Rose) F. M. KnuthGrusonia leptocaulis (DC.) G. D. RowleyOpuntia brittonii J. G. OrtegaOpuntia fragilis var. frutescens Engelm. & A. GrayOpuntia frutescens Engelm.Opuntia frutescens var. brevispina Engelm.Opuntia frutescens var. longispina Engelm.Opuntia gracilis Pfeiff.Opuntia leptocaulis DC.Opuntia leptocaulis var. badia A. BergerOpuntia leptocaulis var. bevispina (Egelm.) S. WatsonOpuntia leptocaulis var. britonii (J. G. Ortega) BravoOpuntia leptocaulis var. longispina (Engelm.) A. BergerOpuntia leptocaulis var. robustior A. BergerOpuntia leptocaulis var. vaginata (Engelm.) S. WatsonOpuntia ramulifera Salm-DyckOpuntia vaginata Engelm.

References (3)

Estrada-Castillon, E., et al, 2014, Ethnobotany in Rayones, Nuevo Leon, Mexico. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine, 10:62 (As Opuntia leptocaulis)
Kermath, B. M., et al, 2014, Food Plants in the Americas: A survey of the domesticated, cultivated and wild plants used for Human food in North, Central and South America and the Caribbean. On line draft. p 289
Moerman, D. F., 2010, Native American Ethnobotany. Timber Press. p 367 (As Opuntia leptocaulis)