Opuntia stanlyi
Common: Devil cholla
Family: Cactaceae
Habitat: Plains and mesas in sandy soil; 2500 to 4000 ft. elevation. Baja California, Mexico.
Dense ground cover for cactus gardens. Not suitable for high elevation areas. To six inches, rarely to 1 ft. Cylindrical joints to 6 inches long, 1-1/2" in diameter.
Belongs to the club/mat-forming cholla group. Plants form mats several yards in diameter. Straw colored to brownish spines, straight, 18 to 21 per areole and up to 2 inches in length. Flowers are yellowish to greenish yellow, to 2" wide. Followed by yellow spiny fruit to 3 inches long, 3/4" in diameter.
28 species of Opuntia in Arizona. Several varieties of this species; the variety kunzei covers very large areas in the Kofa Mountain-Yuma, Arizona area.