Chain-fruit Cholla
Cylindropuntia fulgida var. fulgida
NEMBA category
English: Chain-fruit Cholla, Boxing Glove Cholla, Club Cactus, Coral Cactus, Jumping Cactus
Misapplied or old scientific names: Opuntia fulgida, Opuntia rosea
This densely spiny succulent grows as a shrub or small tree reaching 1-3 meters in height, featuring a well-developed trunk and cylindrical stem sections adorned with barbed spines up to 4 cm long that are covered in loose, white papery sheaths nearly concealing the stems.
The plant produces deep pink flowers with backward-curving petals from November to January, followed by yellow succulent berries about 3.5 cm long that form chains as the plant matures.
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Origins: North America
Overall Appearance:
A shrubby cactus with cylindrical, jointed stems that are densely covered in long, barbed spines. It can grow up to 3 meters and spread widely to form dense thickets.
Leaves: Reduced to spines.
Flowers: Pink to magenta flowers that bloom in spring and summer
Fruits: Spiny, green to yellowish fruits that form in chains.
Seeds: Seeds are produced but are not a significant means of reproduction in South Africa.
Soil Type: Tolerates a wide range of soil types.
Aspect: Full sun
Provinces Affected: Northern Cape, Limpopo, and parts of the Eastern Cape.
Notes:
Chain-fruit cholla is a major problem in South Africa due to its rapid spread and its ability to form dense thickets that displace native vegetation and harm wildlife. It is particularly problematic in arid and semi-arid regions.
Cylindropuntia fulgida var. mamillata (Boxing Glove Cholla) and Cylindropuntia fulgida var. fulgida (Chain-Fruit Cholla) are similar, but their main difference lies in their stem morphology.
Cylindropuntia fulgida var. mamillata: As the common name suggests, this variety has stems that often exhibit a distorted, "boxing glove" shape with swollen or enlarged segments.
Cylindropuntia fulgida var. fulgida: This variety typically has more uniformly cylindrical stems that are not as noticeably swollen or distorted as those of C. f. mamillata.
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