This population of upright cholla cactus along Highway 156 (Lee Canyon Road) on the northeast side of the Spring Mountains resembles
Whipple Cholla (Cylindropuntia whipplei), but it has spiny fruit like
Silver Cholla (Cylindropuntia echinocarpa) and
Buckhorn Cholla (Cylindropuntia acanthocarpa).
Cholla are known to hybridize, so it is not surprising that there is such a population, but this is interesting because the population
might be isolated from other cholla populations.
Hybrids between C. whipplei and C. acanthocarpa have been referred to as Cylindropuntia congesta.
Hybrids between C. whipplei and C. echinocarpa have been referred to as Cylindropuntia multigeniculata, which is the
same as the rare Blue Diamond Cholla. Blue Diamond Cholla, however, has a very different growth form. |