The flowers are 1 inch (2.5 cm) wide and have narrow, point-tipped, shiny green tepals, green anther filaments, and a yellow style. The flowers are followed by bright red fruit dotted with bundles of cinnamon brown glochids (tiny areole spines). The colorful fruit remains on the plant throughout the winter, giving this cactus its festive Christmas color. The stems are slender, about 1/4 inch (6 mm) in diameter, green, and spiny near the stem tips with a single 2-inch (5 cm) long, golden brown spine on some of the areoles. Lower stem areoles are more likely to be spineless.

Santa Catalina Mountains
Sabino Canyon Recreation Area.
Location: Bear Canyon Trail 0.2 mile from Visitor Center
12/7/15, 11/29/16

Notes: Flower at Tucson Mountain Park 4/16/16.

See SEINet Pictures and Description

See FireFly Forest Pictures and Description