Cylindropuntia Ramosissima

The long (up to 2 inches), white, yellow/brown-tipped spines of cylindropuntia ramosissima project at right angles from the stems to create a neat, symmetric, colorful plant, up to six feet tall in favoured locations but generally rather shorter. The plant inhabits the hottest regions of the Sonoran Desert, either side of the lower Colorado River. The greenish-grey stems are around a third of an inch in diameter, and the overall appearance is similar to other pencil cholla species in the same region (Christmas and Arizona pencil), but the main identifying feature is the distinctive pattern of the diamond-shaped tubercles - branches of other cholla have a smoother surface. Stems are firmly attached.

The major spines are usually single, occasionally paired, positioned at the center of the tubercles, but they are absent in some specimens, or occur only around the uppermost part of the stems. There may also be a few shorter spines angled downwards.

The pink to reddish-brown (less often yellow) flowers are followed by especially spiny fruits, green at first becoming brown when dry, and remaining on the plant until the fall. Stamens have greenish filaments and yellow anthers. Stigma lobes are pale greenish-white, sometimes tinged pink.