Common Name: Tree Cholla

General Information

Cylindropuntia imbricata is a spiny, evergreen, succulent shrub or small tree-like plant, widely branching and often with a short trunk; it usually grows up to 2.5 metres tall, exceptionally reaching 5 metres[]. The plant often forms extensive thickets[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and source of materials.
Cylindropuntia imbricata is widespread, common, has no major threats, and is found in multiple protected areas. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2020)[].

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

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Range

South-western N. America - Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, northern Mexico (Sonora, Chihuahua, Durango)

Habitat

Sandy to gravelly soils[]. Desert and plains grasslands, extending onto Sonoran Desert flats, pinyon-juniper woodlands, growing on sandy to loamy soils; at elevations from 300 - 2,000 metres[]

Properties

Conservation Status	Least Concern
Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Perennial
Height	3.00 m
Pollinators	Bees, Insects
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

This species is fairly cold tolerant and can succeed outdoors in a selected site in the milder areas of the country[].
Requires a sandy or very well-drained soil[]. Prefers a pH in the range 6 to 7.5[]. Plants must be kept fairly dry in the winter but they like a reasonable supply of water in the growing season[]. A position at the base of a south-facing wall or somewhere that can be protected from winter rain is best for this plant. Requires warmth and plenty of sun. Plants tolerate considerable neglect.
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.
Cylindropuntia imbricata is a very common species within its range and is tolerant of habitat modification. Stem fragments are easily dispersed by cattle and will often form roots and develop into a new plant. Its range and population are likely to increase with cattle-ranching[].

Edible Uses

Stem segments - cooked or raw[]. Watery and very mucilaginous[]. The prickles on the skin must be carefully removed before eating the pads. The young pads can be split lengthways then dried and stored for winter use[].

Fruit - raw, cooked or dried for later use[]. Sweet and gelatinous[]. Lean and insipid[]. Sour[] The unripe fruits can be added to soups etc, imparting an okra-like mucilaginous quality[]. The fruit can hang on the plant all year round[]. Be careful of the plants irritant hairs, see the notes above on toxicity. The yellow, obovoid fruits are about 24 - 45mm long and 20 - 40mm in diameter and usually free of spines[, , ].

Seed - briefly roasted then ground into a powder[]. It is also used as a thickener[].

A gum obtained from the stem is used as a masticatory[, ].

Medicinal

The spine sheaths are ground into a powder and made into a paste that is used to treat boils[].

The dried stem pith is used to treat ear problems[].

Other Uses

The fruit is chopped into small pieces, boiled and then the fibre and seed is filtered out. The resulting liquid is used as a mordant for dyes[, ].

The thorns have been used as a sewing material and for tattooing[].

The soft outer tissue is removed from the stems, leaving a hard woody framework that is often made into canes and walking sticks[].
The dried stems have been used as candles and torches[].

The following notes are for Opuntia ficus indica. They almost certainly also apply to this species[].

A gum is obtained from the stem. It is used as a masticatory or mixed with oil to make candles[]. The juice of the boiled stem segments is very sticky. It is added to plaster, whitewash etc to make it adhere better to walls[].

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 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.