Trees, with short trunks, or large shrubs, widely branching, (1–)1.5–2.5(–5) m. Stem segments firmly attached, whorled or subwhorled, gray-green, cylindric to weakly clavate, 10–40 × 1.5–4 cm; tubercles very prominent, widely spaced, (1.5–)2–5 cm; areoles elliptic, 5–8× 3–4 mm; wool yellow to tan, aging gray to black. Spines (5–)8–15(–30) per areole or spineless to nearly spineless, usually at most areoles, not obscuring stems, spreading, straight or slightly curved, silver to yellow to usually ± red or tan to brown, stout, terete or sometimes flattened basally, 8–30(–40) mm subequal; sheaths silver to yellow to usually tan to dirty white, yellow tipped. Glochids in dense adaxial tuft, pale yellow, 0.5–3 mm. Flowers: inner tepals dark pink to magenta to red-magenta, obovate, apiculate, 15–35 mm; filaments green basally to pink to magenta distally; anthers yellow; style light green basally or pink to red-magenta apically; stigma lobes green or cream. Fruits not proliferating, yellow, obovoid, 24–45 × 20–40 mm, fleshy, tuberculate, spineless; areoles 18–30; tubercles nearly equal in length or longer in proximal portion of fruit, prominent (occasionally smooth at maturity); umbilicus 7–14 mm deep. Seeds yellow-tan, subcircular to angled, warped, 2.5–4 mm diam., sides smooth to slightly lumpy; girdle usually narrow, not protruding.

Distribution

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• Legacy Map

Ariz., Colo., Kans., N.Mex., Okla., Tex., n Mexico.

Discussion

Varieties 2+ (2 in the flora).

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

Cylindropuntia imbricata var. argentea, Cylindropuntia imbricata var. imbricata

Key

1	Plants trees 3-5 m; stem segments 12-40 cm; tubercles widely spaced; spines, and sheaths when present, usually tan to dirty white or ± yellow	Cylindropuntia imbricata var. imbricata
1	Plants erect shrubs to 1.2 m; stem segments 10-20 cm; tubercles narrowly spaced; spines and sheaths silvery	Cylindropuntia imbricata var. argentea