BERBERIDACEAE -- Barberry Family - New Mexico Flores

Scientific Name:
Grusonia clavata
Size:
5 - 15 cm
CACTACEAE -- Cactus Family
Description:
Synonym: Opuntia clavata.
Plants forming a low mat. Stem segments
upright to leaning, club-shaped, narrowed at the
base, 3 - 8 cm long, 1.5 - 3 cm in diameter, with
ovate tubercles. Spines at tubercle apex.
Central spines 4 - 8; 1 - 3 ascending, white to
yellowish, angular flattened to round; 3 - 5 bent
downward, white, flattened, 12 - 35 mm long,
tapering evenly to a point. Radial spines 6 - 13,
5- 15 mm long, round, slender. Spine nodes
also with yellowish white, fine, barbed hairs.
Flowers up to 2.5 cm long, 5 cm in diameter.
Fruit barrel shaped, yellow, 3 - 5 cm long, 1.5-
2.5 cm in diameter, without spines, but with
fine, barbed hairs.
173
Common Name:
Dagger cholla
Color:
Yellow
Notes:
Most of the cacti called “chollas” are shrub-like,
with long cylindrical stems. Dagger cholla is a
very low growing plant. Its stems are short and
cylindrical, but it forms a dense mat. A quick
look at its main spines, angled and tapered, very
knife-like, justifies its name as dagger cholla. It
blooms from May into June between 6000 and
8000 ft.
New Mexico Native