General: Whipple Cholla (Cylindropuntia whipplei) is an upright cactus with one to several main stems and numerous short stem segments that tend to come out at right angles. The height usually is to about 4 feet, but it can grow to 7-feet tall. The tubercles are long and narrow. The spines are relatively short (about 3/4-inch long), eight per tubercle. Green stem color clearly evident. Flowers usually yellow, to about 1-1/2-inches in diameter. Fruit yellow, spineless, persistent.

Whipple Cholla is a locally common component of higher-elevation vegetation communities on well-drained sandy and gravelly soils on flats and upper bajadas in the Upper Sonoran (Mojave Desert Scrub and Pinyon-Juniper Woodland) life zone.

Around Las Vegas, Whipple Cholla is uncommon, but it can be seen along Pine Nut Road and Mormon Well Road in the Desert National Wildlife Range and places eastward at higher elevations. Roads at higher elevations on the Desert National Wildlife Range require, at the least, a high clearance vehicle.

Family: Cactus (Cactaceae).

Other Names: Plateau Cholla, Opuntia whipplei.

Plant Form: Upright and shrub-like, often with one to several main stems.

Height: Usually to about 4 feet (to 7 feet).

Trunk: Usually has a narrow trunk (no larger in diameter than other stem segments).

Stems: Divided into segments; cylindrical. Segments generally less than 5-inches long and about 1-inch in diameter.

Stem Surface: Tuberculated. Tubercles elliptical to elongate, about three times as long as wide (contrast with Silver Cholla, which have shorter, more oval tubercles).

Spines: Eight spines per tubercle, to about 3/4 inches long; sheath papery, straw to yellowish.

Glochids: Present, yellow.

Flowers: Blooms late spring and early summer. Inflorescence: solitary flowers at stem tips. Flower: diameter about 1-1/2 inches, yellow to chartreuse.

Fruit: Fleshy, Tuberculated, yellow, without spines.

Seeds: Few per fruit, small (1/8-inch diameter), tan.

Habitat: Dry, well-drained sandy, gravelly, and rocky soils on flats and upper bajadas into the lower mountains.

Distribution: Southeastern Nevada to Colorado and western New Mexico.

Elevation: About 4,500 to 8,000 feet.

Comments: Hybridizes with other chollas.

Whipple Cholla leaves on fresh stem sprouts

Red tinged Whipple Cholla flowers.