Description: Succulent spinose shrubs; segments cylindrical, ± circular in cross section, tuberculate but not regularly angled or winged.
Leaves ± terete, falling very early. Areoles rounded, filled with brownish woolly hairs; glochids present but usually small and harmless; spines scattered in the areoles, brown, covered with papery sheaths.
Flowers borne at end of branches.
Fruit ± globose, spineless.
Distribution and occurrence: World: 40 species, southern U.S.A. & Mexico. Australia: several species (naturalized).
Text by G. J. Harden
Taxon concept:
Taxa not yet included in identification key
Cylindropuntia fulgida,
Cylindropuntia imbricata,
Cylindropuntia kleiniae,
Cylindropuntia leptocaulis,
Cylindropuntia pallida,
Cylindropuntia prolifera,
Cylindropuntia spinosior,
Cylindropuntia tunicata
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