Scientific name:
Grusonia emoryi, opuntia emoryi
Common name:
Devil cholla
Range:
Southwest Arizona, southwest New Mexico, west Texas
Form:
Low, spreading mats, 1 or 2 stems high
Habitat:
Desert flats, scrubland, hillsides to 4,000 feet elevation
Flowers:
Yellow, with a pale green interior
Distribution map for grusonia emoryi
The short (up to 6 inches) green stems of grusonia emoryi have very pronounced tubercles and show the distinctive club-shape of all species in this genus; narrow at the base, widening to be 2 inches across at the top. Spine cover is lighter than some similar species, allowing the stems to be clearly visible. Each areole has between 12 to 30 spines, longest 2 inches, colored white, pale yellow or pale brown. Both flowers and fruit are yellow. The plant occurs in scattered, low elevation locations in the Chihuahuan and Sonoran deserts, in three states.
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