Common Name: Buckthorn Cholla

General Information

Cylindropuntia acanthocarpa is a spiny, evergreen, succulent, sparsely to densely branched shrubby or tree-like cactus; it usually grows around 1 - 2 metres tall, occasionally reaching 4 metres[].
The plant was an important food for the native Americans, harvested in the spring and pit-baked to supply a food source that could be stored for later in the year. The flower buds are sold as a gourmet speciality food in Arizona and the plant is commonly grown as an ornamental[].
Cylindropuntia acanthocarpa is an extremely widespread and abundant species and there are no major threats. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2017)[].

Known Hazards

The plant has numerous minutely barbed glochids - these are barbed spines that are usually small to minute and are very sharp and brittle. The glochids are very easily dislodged when the plant is touched and can penetrate the skin where, because of their barbs, they become stuck and are very difficult to see and remove. They can cause considerable irritation and discomfort[, ].
Opuntia species can contain quite high levels of oxalic acid, especially in older parts of the plant. Perfectly alright in small quantities, foods containing oxalic acid should not be eaten in large amounts since it can lock-up other nutrients in the food, especially calcium, thus causing mineral deficiencies. The oxalic acid content will be reduced if the plant is cooked. People with a tendency to rheumatism, arthritis, gout, kidney stones or hyperacidity should take especial caution if including this plant in their diet since it can aggravate their condition[, ].

Botanical References

,

Range

Southwest N. America - western Nevada, southwest Utah, southeast Californa, Arizona, northern Mexico (Sonora)

Habitat

Sonoran and Mojave Deserts, desert grasslands, edges of juniper woodlands, rocky slopes and sandy flats; at elevations from 400 - 1,500 metres[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Least Concern
Edibility Rating
Habit	Evergreen Shrub
Height	1.50 m
Pollinators	Bees, Insects
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

In cultivation, Cactus plants generally will not succeed in moist climates. They usually require a sunny position in a well-drained, circumneutral soil and to be kept more or less dry in the dormant season[].
The outer wall of the fruit is actually formed from stem material and, in many species of Cylindropuntia, once detached from the plant will form roots and grow into a new plant. This is often the main way in which a plant will reproduce[]

Edible Uses

The flower buds and young stem sections - cooked[]. The cylindrical stem sections are 10 - 30cm long and 2 - 3cm in diameter[]. Harvested in spring, they were traditionally pit-baked then eaten or dried for later use[]. They are said to store indefinitely and have been important food resource for the native peoples since prehistoric times[, ].
The baked, dried flower buds continue to be a favoured food of the regional O’odham people in Arizona, and are available in southern Arizona as a gourmet specialty food[].

The mature fruit has a dry flesh and, although potentially edible, is not usually eaten

Medicinal

Because they make a good balanced meal, the baked flower buds are ground to a powder and made into gruel to be given to patients suffering from stomach trouble and needing a special diet[].

An ash made from the burned stems is applied topically to treat burns[].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - sow early spring in a very well-drained compost in a greenhouse. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first two winters. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Give the plants some protection from winter wet. Make sure you have some reserve plants in case those outdoors do not overwinter.
Cuttings of leaf pads or fruits at any time in the growing season. Remove a pad from the plant and then leave it in a dry sunny place for a couple of days to ensure that the base is thoroughly dry and has begun to callous. Pot up into a sandy compost. Very easy, rooting quickly.