Cactaceae

Cactus Family

Carnegiea gigantea (=Cereus giganteus; Carnegiea has also been spelled Carnegia, [USDA, for example]).  SAGUARO.  GIANT CACTUS.  Succulent tree.  Mohave and Yavapai counties up to 3500 feet (or occasionally to 5000 feet [McD].

Coryphantha chlorantha (=Escobaria vivipara var. deserti; Coryphantha vivipara var. desertii).  DESERT SPINYSTAR.  Succulent perennial.  Reported from extreme northern Mohave County [McD].  Range map shows this in northwestern Arizona [FNA-4].

Coryphantha missouriensis.  MISSOURI FOXTAIL CACTUS.  Succulent perennial.  Range map shows this species through much of our area, except in the northeast corner [FNA-4].

Coryphantha vivipara (=Escobaria vivipara; Coryphantha vivipara var. arizonica).  BEEHIVE CACTUS.  PINCUSHION CACTUS.  ARIZONA SPINYSTAR.  Succulent perennial.  Throughout the region at 4700-8000 feet [McD].

Cylindropuntia abyssi (=Opuntia abyssi).  PEACH SPRINGS CHOLLA.  Succulent shrub.  May be endemic to Peach Springs Canyon, Mohave County, but "may well be a persistent hybrid derivative, most likely involving C. bigelovii" [FNA-4].

Cylindropuntia acanthocarpa var. acanthocarpa (=Opuntia acanthocarpa.)  BUCKHORN CHOLLA.  Succulent shrub.  In southwest portion of our range [FNA-4].

Cylindropuntia acanthocarpa var. coloradensis (=Opuntia acanthocarpa var. coloradensis.)  BUCKHORN CHOLLA.  Succulent shrub.  In far western portion of our range [FNA-4].

Cylindropuntia acanthocarpa var. thornberi (=Opuntia acanthocarpa var. thornberi.)  THORNBER CHOLLA.  In southwestern and southern portion of our range, ca. 1800-5000 feet [FNA-4].

Cylindropuntia bigelovii (=Opuntia bigelovii).  JUMPING CHOLLA.  TEDDYBEAR CHOLLA.  Succulent shrub.  Mohave and Yavapai counties up to 3000 feet [McD].

Cylindropuntia echinocarpa (=Opuntia echinocarpa.)  SILVER CHOLLA.  GOLDEN CHOLLA.  Succulent shrub.  Mohave County, up to 3000 feet [McD].

Cylindropuntia fulgida (=Opuntia fulgida).  CHAIN-FRUIT CHOLLA.  Succulent shrub or small tree.  Northern Gila County, near Theodore Roosevelt Lake at ca. 2200 feet [LD].

Cylindropuntia leptocaulis (=Opuntia leptocaulis).  DESERT CHRISTMAS CHOLLA.  CHRISTMAS CACTUS.  Succulent shrub or small tree.  Mohave and Yavapai counties, 1000-5000 feet [McD].

Cylindropuntia ramosissima (=Opuntia ramosissima.)  DIAMOND CHOLLA.  PENCIL CHOLLA.  BRANCHED PENCIL CHOLLA.  Succulent shrub.  Mohave County, 1000-2000 feet [McD].

Cylindropuntia spinosior (=Opuntia spinosior.)  CANE CHOLLA.  DEERHORN CHOLLA.  WALKINGSTICK CACTUS.  Succulent shrub or tree.  Reported in Yavapai County, 3000-5000 feet [McD].

Cylindropuntia x tetracantha (=Opuntia x tetracantha; Opuntia kleiniae var. tetracantha; believed to be a hybrid of C. acanthocarpa and C. leptocaulis).  Succulent shrub.  Yavapai County and southern Navajo County at ca. 3000-4000 feet [McD].

Cylindropuntia whipplei (=Opuntia whipplei.)  WHIPPLE CHOLLA.  Succulent perennial or shrub.  Found throughout, 3500-6500 feet [McD].

Echinocactus polycephalus var. polycephalus.  MANY-HEADED BARREL CACTUS.  COTTONTOP CACTUS.  Succulent perennial.   Mohave County at low altitudes [McD].  Range map suggests this may occur in extreme northwestern Arizona near the Colorado River [FNA-4].

Echinocactus polycephalus var. xeranthemoides.  MANY-HEADED BARREL CACTUS.  COTTONTOP CACTUS.  Succulent perennial.  Reported in Mohave and Coconino counties [McD].  Range map shows this variety in northwestern Arizona [FNA-4].

~Echinocereus arizonicus.  ARIZONA CLARET-CUP CACTUS.  ARIZONA HEDGEHOG CACTUS.  Succulent perennial.  Range map suggests this may occur in south-central parts of our region, at up to 5900 feet elevation [FNA-4].

~Echinocereus bonkerae (=Echinocereus fendleri var. bonkerae).  PINKFLOWER HEDGEHOG CACTUS.  Succulent perennial.  Range map suggests this may occur in southeastern edge of our region, elevation ca. 2100-6200 feet [FNA-4].

Echinocereus coccineus var. coccineus (=Echinocereus triglochidiatus var. melanacanthus).  CLARET-CUP CACTUS.  SCARLET HEDGEHOG CACTUS.  Succulent perennial.  Yavapai, Coconino, Navajo, and Apache counties, 4000-9000 feet [McD].  Range map shows this taxon in northwestern Arizona, apparently not in the eastern counties listed by McD above, except possibly in the extreme south of those counties [FNA-4].

Echinocereus engelmannii.  ENGELMANN'S HEDGEHOG CACTUS.  STRAWBERRY HEDGEHOG CACTUS.  Succulent perennial.  Mohave, Yavapai, and Coconino counties up to 5000 feet [McD].

Echinocereus fasciculatus (=Echinocereus fendleri var. fasciculatus; Echinocereus fasciculatus var. boyce-thompsonii).  PINKFLOWER HEDGEHOG CACTUS.  Succulent perennial.  Yavapai and Coconino counties, 3500-5000 feet [McD].  Southeastern half of Yavapai County, near Sedona in Coconino County, west-central Gila County [LB:CAZ].  West side of Roosevelt Lake, Gila County, ca. 2160 feet [LD].

Echinocereus fendleri.  FENDLER'S HEDGEHOG CACTUS.  STRAWBERRY CACTUS.  PINKFLOWER HEDGEHOG CACTUS.  Succulent perennial.  Extreme northern Yavapai County, Coconino, Navajo, and Apache counties, 4500-7500 feet [McD].

Echinocereus triglochidiatus. (=Echinocereus triglochidiatus var. gonacanthus; Echinocereus triglochidiatus var. mojavensis).  CLARET-CUP CACTUS.  KINGCUP CACTUS.  Succulent perennial.  St. Johns, Apache County [McD, E. t. var. gonacanthus].  Mohave, Coconino, Navajo, and Apache counties, 4000-6000 feet [McD, E. t. var. mojavensis].

Echinomastus johnsonii (=Sclerocactus johnsonii; Neolloydia johnsonii).  BEEHIVE CACTUS.  JOHNSON'S FISHHOOK CACTUS.  Succulent perennial.  Mohave and Yavapai counties, 4000 feet and lower [McD].

Ferocactus cylindraceus var. cylindraceus (=Ferocactus acanthodes).  DESERT BARREL CACTUS.  CALIFORNIA BARREL CACTUS.  Succulent perennial.  Mohave County and northern Coconino County, up to 4500 feet [McD].

~Ferocactus emoryi.  EMORY'S BARREL CACTUS.  COVILLE'S BARREL CACTUS.  Succulent perennial.  Range map indicates this may occur in southwestern edge of our range [FNA-4].

~Ferocactus wislizeni.  COMPASS BARREL.  ARIZONA BARREL CACTUS.  CANDY BARREL CACTUS.  Range map shows this species occuring in south-central part of our region [FNA-4].

~Grusonia emoryi (=Opuntia emoryi).  DEVIL CLUB-CHOLLA.  Succulent perennial.  Range map indicates this could occur in the southeastern edge of our area at elevations up to 3700 feet [FNA-4].

~Grusonia kunzei (=Opuntia kunzei).  KUNZE'S CLUB-CHOLLA.  Succulent perennial.  Range map indicates this could occur in the southwestern edge of our area at elevations up to ca. 1800 feet [FNA-4].

Grusonia parishii (=Opuntia parishii; Opuntia stanlyi var. parishii).  PARISH CLUB-CHOLLA.  MATTED CHOLLA.  Succulent perennial.  Reported from Mohave and western Yavapai counties, 3000-5000 feet [McD].

Mammillaria grahamii var. grahamii (=Mammillaria microcarpa).  ARIZONA FISHHOOK CACTUS.  GRAHAM'S FISHHOOK CACTUS.  GRAHAM'S NIPPLE CACTUS.  Succulent perennial.  Reported from central and southern Mohave County, up to 4500 feet [McD].

Mammillaria tetrancistra.  COMMON FISHHOOK CACTUS.  Succulent perennial.  Mohave and southern Yavapai counties, Grand Canyon and Marble Canyon in Coconino County, 950-2400 feet [McD].

Mammillaria viridiflora.  GREEN FLOWER NIPPLE CACTUS.  Succulent perennial.  Range map shows this in western portion of our area at middle elevations [FNA-4].

~Mammillaria wrightii var. wrightii.  WRIGHT'S FISHHOOK CACTUS.  Succulent perennial.  Range map suggests this may occur in extreme southeastern part of our area [FNA-4].

Opuntia basilaris.  BEAVERTAIL CACTUS.  BEAVERTAIL PRICKLYPEAR.   Succulent perennial.  Mohave and Yavapai counties, up to 3000 feet [McD].  Also in northern Coconino County, mostly at low elevations along Colorado River [LB:CAZ].  Grand Canyon National Park: Inner Canyon along length of Colorado River from river level to Tonto Platform ["Plateau"]; also in western Grand Canyon on lower rims; 1200-4800 feet [PP&B].  FNA distinguishes O. basilaris var. basilaris, and range map shows it only in the western third of our area [FNA-4].

Opuntia basilaris var. longiareolata.  GRAND CANYON BEAVERTAIL PRICKLYPEAR.  Succulent perennial.  In Arizona, and range map shows in north central part of our range [FNA-4].

Opuntia chlorotica.  PANCAKE PRICKLYPEAR.  PANCAKE-PEAR.  SILVER DOLLAR CACTUS.   DOLLARJOINT PRICKLYPEAR.  Succulent shrub.  Throughout region, 2000-6000 feet [McD].

Opuntia x curvispina.  SEARCHLIGHT PRICKLYPEAR.  Succulent shrub.  Far western part of our range at ca. 3000-4600 feet.  A hybrid of Opuntia chlorotica and O. phaeacantha [FNA-4].

Opuntia engelmannii var. engelmannii.  ENGELMANN'S PRICKLYPEAR.  Succulent shrub.  Through most of our region at ca. 1000-8000 feet.  Hybridizes with Opuntia phaeacantha [FNA-4].

~Opuntia engelmannii var. flavispina.  Succulent shrub.  May occur in the south-central portion of our region at up to ca. 2500 feet [FNA-4].

~Opuntia engelmannii var. linguiformis.  COW'S TONGUE PRICKLYPEAR.  Succulent shrub.  May occur in the south-central portion of our region at up to ca. 2000 feet [FNA-4].

Opuntia fragilis.  BRITTLE PRICKLYPEAR.  LITTLE PRICKLYPEAR.  Succulent perennial.   Coconino, Navajo, and Apache counties, 6500-7500 feet; probably also in northern Mohave County [McD].

Opuntia macrocentra (=Opuntia violacea var. macrocentra).  BLACK-SPINED PRICKLYPEAR.  PURPLE PRICKLYPEAR.  Succulent shrub.  Eastern Yavapai County, 3500-4500 feet [McD].

Opuntia macrorhiza.  WESTERN PRICKLYPEAR.  TWISTSPINE PRICKLYPEAR.  Succulent perennial or shrub.  Throughout region, 4000-7500 feet [McD].

~Opuntia microdasys.  BUNNY-EARS PRICKLYPEAR.  Succulent shrub.  An introduced cultivated species which is sometimes naturalized in the sate and may occur in the south-central portion of our region, at up to 6500 feet [FNA-4].

Opuntia phaeacantha.  BROWN-SPINED PRICKLYPEAR.  TULIP PRICKLYPEAR.  Succulent shrub.  Throughout region, 1000-7500 feet [McD].

Opuntia pinkavae.  PINKAVA'S PRICKLYPEAR.  Succulent shrub.  Extreme northern Arizona at ca. 4300-5000 feet [FNA-4].

Opuntia polyacantha.  PLAINS PRICKLYPEAR.  STARVATION PRICKLYPEAR.  Succulent perennial.  Reported in Coconino, Navajo, and Apache counties, 6000-7000 feet [McD].

Opuntia polyacantha var. erinacea (=Opuntia erinacea).  MOJAVE PRICKLYPEAR.  GRIZZLYBEAR PRICKLYPEAR.  Succulent perennial.  Extreme northwestern Arizona [FNA-4].

Opuntia polyacantha var. hystricina.  PORCUPINE PRICKLYPEAR.  Succulent perennial.  Northeastern Arizona [FNA-4].

Pediocactus bradyi.  MARBLE CANYON CACTUS.  BRADY'S HEDGEHOG CACTUS.  BRADY PINCUSHION CACTUS.  Succulent perennial.  Near Marble Canyon, northern Coconino County, at ca. 4000 feet [McD].  Marble Canyon region, 3340-5200 feet [ARPC].

Pediocactus paradinei.  HOUSEROCK CACTUS.  PARK HEDGEHOG CACTUS.  PARADINE PLAINS CACTUS.  KAIBAB PINCUSHION CACTUS.  Succulent perennial.  Northern Mohave and Coconino counties, 5000-6000 feet [McD].  Endemic to the Kaibab Plateau region [FNA-4].  Coconino County: East side of the Kaibab Plateau, 5000-7000 feet [ARPC].

Pediocactus peeblesianus var. peeblesianus.  NAVAJO PINCUSHION CACTUS.  PEEBLES NAVAJO CACTUS.  NAVAJO PLAINS CACTUS.  PEEBLES NAVAJO CACTUS.  Succulent perennial.  Navajo County [McD].  Central Navajo County, Little Colorado River watershed; 5100-5650 feet [ARPC].

Pediocactus peeblesianus var. fickeiseniae.  NAVAJO PINCUSHION CACTUS.  FICKEISEN'S NAVAJO CACTUS.  FICKEISEN PLAINS CACTUS.  FICKEISEN PINCUSION CACTUS.  Succulent perennial.  Northern Mohave and Coconino counties, 4000-5000 feet [McD].  Northern Mohave County, northern and central Coconino County, 4300-5450 feet [ARPC].

Pediocactus sileri.  GYPSUM CACTUS.  SILER'S PINCUSHION CACTUS.  Succulent perennial.  In the vicinity of Pipe Springs and Fredonia, northern Mohave and Coconino counties [McD].  Northern Mohave County and far northwestern corner of Coconino County: "Fort Pierce, Lost Spring Mountain, Yellowstone Mesa and Shinarump Mesa", 2800-5400 feet [ARPC].

Pediocactus simpsonii.  MOUNTAIN CACTUS.  SIMPSON'S FOOTCACTUS.  SIMPSON HEDGEHOG CACTUS.  Succulent perennial.  Grand Canyon, Coconino County, 6000-9500 feet [McD].

Peniocereus greggii var. transmontanus (=Cereus greggii var. transmontanus).  DESERT NIGHT-BLOOMING CEREUS.  ARIZONA QUEEN-OF-THE-NIGHT.  Succulent perennial.  Southern Mohave County at low altitudes [McD].

Sclerocactus papyracanthus (=Pediocactus papyracanthus).   GRAMA-GRASS CACTUS.  PAPER-SPINED CACTUS.  TOUMEYA.  PAPERSPINE FISHHOOK CACTUS.  Succulent perennial.  Southern Navajo County, 5000-6000 feet [McD].

Sclerocactus parviflorus.  DEVIL'S-CLAW CACTUS.  SMALL FLOWER FISHHOOK CACTUS.  Succulent perennial.  Range map shows this species occuring in most of our area above 3000 feet [FNA-4].

Sclerocactus sileri.  SILER FISHHOOK CACTUS.  Succulent perennial.  Northeast Coconino County at ca. 5000-5300 feet [FNA-4].  Northern Coconino County: House Rock Valley and Paria Plateau; 5000-6300 feet [ARPC].

Sclerocactus whipplei.  WHIPPLE'S FISHHOOK CACTUS.  Succulent perennial.  Northern Mohave and Coconino counties, Navajo and Apache counties, 5000-6000 feet [McD].

Nomenclature on this page conforms to Flora of North America, Vol. 4.

This page revised 30 May 2007.