Pencil Cactus
Cylindropuntia leptocaulis
NEMBA category
English: Pencil Cactus, Desert Christmas Cactus, Desert Christmas Cholla, Tasajillo
Afrikaans: Potloodkaktus
Historical scientific names: Opuntia leptocaulis, Opuntia frutescens
Cylindropuntia leptocaulis, commonly called Pencil Cholla or Desert Christmas Cactus, is a truly unusual cactus that looks like a collection of thin, greenish-grey pencils stuck together, covered in sharp, often reddish spines! This is . It's a shrubby cactus with slender, segmented stems that are easily detached.
While its small, pale flowers might be discreet, it's the bright red, fleshy berries that appear in winter, resembling festive ornaments, that give it its "Christmas cactus" name. Be careful though, those fine, barbed spines (glochids) are notoriously difficult to remove from skin!
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Origin:
Native to the south-western USA (Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas) and northern Mexico.
Distinguishing features:
Slender, pencil-like stems: Very thin, cylindrical, segmented stems, giving it a delicate, twiggy appearance compared to other cholla cacti.
Detachable stem segments: The segments are easily detached from the main plant, aiding in its spread.
Bright red, persistent fruits: Small, fleshy, spineless red fruits that remain on the plant well into winter.
Barbed glochids: In addition to larger spines, it has very small, fine, barbed bristles (glochids) in the areoles that readily attach to skin and are difficult to remove.
Overall appearance:
An erect, spiny, succulent shrub that often branches extensively from a main stem. It has a distinctive open, twiggy appearance due to its very slender, cylindrical stem segments. Older plants may develop a scaly bark on their main trunk.
Height:
Typically grows to between 0.5 and 1.8 metres tall. It can sometimes reach greater heights (up to 2-3 metres) if supported by other vegetation.
Width:
Can spread up to 1 to 2 metres wide, often forming dense, impenetrable thickets as its branches intertwine with each other and other plants.
Leaves:
Like most cacti, its true leaves are very small (less than 1.3 cm long), scale-like, and early deciduous, meaning they drop off quickly after forming on new growth. Photosynthesis is primarily carried out by the green stems.
Flowers:
Small, cup-shaped flowers, typically 1.3 to 2.5 centimetres in diameter. They are pale yellow, greenish-yellow, or bronze, sometimes with reddish tips. The flowers open in the late afternoon and usually close by the following morning. The plant is hermaphroditic, with both male and female parts in each flower.
Flowering season:
In its native range, it flowers during late spring and summer (around April to August). In South Africa, it likely follows a similar pattern, potentially with some variation depending on local conditions.
Fruits:
The fruit is a small (9-15 mm long by 6-7 mm wide), obovoid (egg-shaped, wider at the top), fleshy, smooth, and spineless berry. It matures to a distinctive yellow or bright red colour and is highly persistent, often remaining on the plant well into winter, giving rise to its common name "Christmas Cactus." Each fruit typically has 1-3 areoles with glochids (tiny barbed spines).
Seeds:
Usually less than 12 seeds per fruit. The seeds are pale yellow, suborbicular to squarish in outline, warped, and about 3 to 4.5 millimetres in diameter. They have a smooth surface with usually 1-3 large depressions. Seeds can sometimes sprout while still in the fruit on the plant.
Bark:
Young stems are green to grey-green or purplish, and relatively smooth. On older, more mature stems and the main trunk, the epidermis becomes scaly and rough, forming a pale tan or greyish, persistent bark.
Thorns:
It has two types of spines. Each areole (the raised bumps on the stem) typically has 0-1 (sometimes up to 3) solitary, straight or slightly curved spines, 1 to 4 centimetres long, which can be red-brown and flattened at the base. More importantly, it has numerous tiny, very sharp, barbed spines called glochids, which are yellowish to red-brown and easily detach, embedding themselves painfully in skin.
Wood:
The stems are woody, particularly the older, basal parts that can form a somewhat branched, woody framework. The younger segments are firm but can break easily at the joints.
Roots:
Develops a fibrous root system that helps it anchor in various soil types.
Soil type:
Highly adaptable and can grow in most soil types, but it is particularly successful in gravelly, sandy, and heavier bottomland soils. It is drought-tolerant and requires well-drained conditions.
Aspect:
Prefers full sun. It is highly heat-tolerant and thrives in arid and semi-arid desert environments.
Ediblity:
Its fruits are known to be edible for humans in its native range. Some Native American tribes historically used the berries as a food source, eating them raw, or for their intoxicating or hallucinogenic effects. However, due to the presence of glochids and potential for misidentification with more toxic species, consumption is not recommended.
Toxicity:
While the fruits have traditional uses, the plant itself is generally considered non-toxic in terms of severe poisoning from ingestion. The main hazard is the physical irritation and pain caused by the sharp spines and the minute, barbed glochids that readily detach and can become deeply embedded in skin, eyes, and mucous membranes. This can cause severe irritation, inflammation, and secondary infections. Some sources suggest the berries may have intoxicating or hallucinogenic effects when consumed in quantity, which implies certain compounds are present.
Uses:
Primarily used as an ornamental plant in xeriscaping or rock gardens in arid regions due to its unique appearance and low water requirements. Historically, some Native American tribes used the fruits. Its dense, spiny thickets can provide habitat and protection for small desert animals.
Ecology:
As an alien invasive plant in South Africa, Cylindropuntia leptocaulis poses a threat through its ability to form dense, impenetrable thickets, especially in disturbed areas and rangelands. It spreads readily both by seeds (dispersed by birds and other animals that consume the fruit) and, crucially, by its easily detached stem segments. These segments, covered in barbed spines and glochids, adhere to passing animals, vehicle tyres, or clothing, and are then carried to new locations where they can root and grow. This mechanical dispersal is highly effective. Once established, it outcompetes indigenous vegetation, reduces grazing capacity, restricts access for livestock and wildlife, and its spines can cause severe injuries to animals and humans. It is under biological control in South Africa by the cochineal bug Dactylopius tomentosus, which has shown good success in managing its populations.
Distribution and habitat:
Naturalised in southern Africa, including South Africa, where it is found in many provinces, particularly in arid to semi-arid regions. It invades roadsides, railway lines, disturbed areas, degraded pastures, and open woodlands, often in drier parts of the Eastern Cape, Free State, Northern Cape, and Limpopo. Its presence around Kenton-on-Sea, given its preference for drier areas, would likely be limited to very specific, well-drained, sandy, or rocky, disturbed sites.
Derivation of name:
The genus name Cylindropuntia is derived from 'cylindro' (meaning "cylindrical") and Opuntia (a related cactus genus), referring to its cylindrical stem segments.
The species epithet leptocaulis comes from Greek words 'leptos' (meaning "slender" or "thin") and 'caulis' (meaning "stem"), aptly describing its very slender stems.
Common names like "Desert Christmas Cactus" refer to the bright red fruits that persist through winter, resembling Christmas ornaments. "Pencil Cholla" refers to its thin, pencil-like stems.
Historical aspects:
Cylindropuntia leptocaulis was introduced to South Africa as an ornamental plant or inadvertently as a contaminant. Like many other cacti, its hardiness, drought tolerance, and unique appearance made it attractive. However, its efficient dispersal mechanisms (especially the detachable, spiny segments) and ability to form dense, spiny thickets quickly led to its recognition as a problematic invasive species. Its impacts on rangelands and the physical hazards it poses to livestock and humans led to the implementation of biological control programmes.
NEMBA status:
Category 1b invasive species. This means it must be controlled and eradicated where possible. It is illegal to plant, propagate, import, or otherwise possess this plant without a permit in South Africa. Its populations are under complete biological control by the cochineal bug Dactylopius tomentosus.
Interesting facts:
This cactus is famous for its bright red fruits that hang on its stems like festive ornaments, especially in winter, earning it the charming name "Desert Christmas Cactus"!
Don't let its seemingly delicate, pencil-thin stems fool you – they are covered in super-tiny, barbed spines called glochids that are incredibly irritating and notoriously difficult to remove from your skin!
This plant is a master of hitchhiking! Its stem segments break off easily and have those barbed spines, so they can cling onto animals or even your clothes and hitch a ride to a brand new location to start a new plant.
Even though it's a spiky desert dweller, some Native American tribes used to eat its surprisingly sweet, red fruits, which were even reported to have a slightly intoxicating effect!
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