Cylindropuntia munzii

Cylindropuntia munzii - Body

Let’s explore a plant that we do not want to touch with our hands! This plant’s scientific name is Cylindropuntia munzii. This plant’s common name is Munz’ Cholla. Look closely at the photos and videos below. What do you notice? How do you think this plant has adapted to survive in its environment?

Scientific Name: Cylindropuntia munzii (sil-in-dro-PUNT-ee-uh munz-ee-ee)

Family: Cactaceae

Common Name: Munz’ Cholla

Range: California, Mexico

Cylindropuntia munzii

target icon target icon target icon target icon target icon target icon plant with pale green cylindrical stems and white spine-like growths.

Cylindropuntia munzii | The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens

Armor. Spines protect the plant from hungry and thirsty animals (including humans). Animals need water and nutrients to stay alive. Plants are a great source of water and nutrients for animals, but plants need to hold onto their own water and nutrients! Armor is an adaptation to protect the plant from hungry animals. The spines also provide shade to this desert plant.

Succulence. These stems are thick because they are full of water. Succulent plants often have squishy leaves or stems because the organ is filled with liquid! Succulence is when a plant stores water in its leaves or stems. This Cholla stores water in its stems. When it is very dry in the plant's environment, this plant can use its stored water to help it stay alive. Succulence is an adaptation to help the plant survive in hot and dry environments.

No Leaves. Leaves take energy to keep alive. Leaves are covered in tiny pores called stomas. Stomas release water into the environment when they open. Plants living in places with very little water need to save as much water as they can, and this adaptation can help with that. Instead of making leaves to photosynthesize, this plant uses its stem for photosynthesis. The stomas are on the stem surface. Having no leaves is an adaptation to help the plant survive in hot and dry environments.

Vertical Branches. The vertical branches help the plant stay cool. Overheating is dangerous for people, and it is dangerous for plants too! Vertical branches are an adaptation to minimize the parts of the plant facing the sun during the hottest part of the day. This shade helps the plant keep its water longer. Vertical branches are an adaptation to help the plant survive in hot and dry environments.

Waxy Surfaces. All leaves have a cuticle that protects the leaf and helps to keep water inside. Some stems also have a waxy covering on the outside. Some plants have adapted an especially thick waxy cuticle. When the cuticle is thick, the plant keeps even more water inside! Waxy cuticles are an adaptation to help the plant survive in hot and dry environments.

Pale Stems. Pale stems reflect more sunlight than dark stems. Pale stems absorb less heat than dark stems. This prevents overheating! Overheating is dangerous for people, and it is dangerous for plants too! Pale stems are an adaptation to help the plant survive in hot and dry environments.

Which color do you think best matches the outside of the stems of this plant? Which color best matches the inside of the stems?

Plant with pale green cylindrical stems and white spine-like growths.

Cylindropuntia munzii

A hand holds tweezers that hold a cut plant stem. The cut stem is bright green in the center. The cut stem has several spine-like growths.

Cylindropuntia munzii stem

A cross-section of a succulent stem tip on a black table. The inside of the stem is bright green and white. The outside of the stem is covered in long white spine-like growths.

Cylindropuntia munzii stem cross-section

A hand holds tweezers that hold a cut plant stem. The cut stem has several spine-like growths.

Cylindropuntia munzii stem

Succulent with pale green stems. the stems are covered in white armor.

Cylindropuntia munzii

green succulent stem with white spines and purple flower buds at the tip.

Questions & Prompts

  • What do you observe?

  • What do you wonder?

  • Imagine touching this plant. What would it feel like? Do you think different parts of the plant feel different?

  • If you could ask this plant one question, what would you ask?

  • This plant’s common name (or nickname) is Munz’s Cholla. Why do you think people chose this common name? What common name (or nickname) would you give to this plant? Why?

  • What do you think would happen to this plant if it were transplanted to a rainforest? Why do you think that?

Creative Prompts

  • What colors do you see on this plant? Do you see any of these greens? Can you recreate these colors using art supplies?

  • Be an engineer! Study the adaptations that help this Cholla survive in a low water environment. Create an invention to help people survive low water environments. Your invention should use the same features the Cynlindropuntia munzii uses. What does your invention do? Is your invention sustainable?

  • Be an artist! Create an abstract artwork based on this plant’s features. When you’re done, write a label for your artwork.

  • Be an artist! Create a pattern artwork based on a plant part pattern you see. When you’re done, write a label for your artwork.

  • Be an artist! Create a work of botanical art for this plant.

  • Write from the perspective of a small desert animal (you choose which animal!). The animal encounters this plant for the first time. What do they think? What do they notice? What do they do?


Resources and References

“Cylindropuntia Munzii.” n.d. Accessed June 7, 2021. https://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/eflora/eflora_display.php?tid=88946.

“Cylindropuntia Munzii Calflora.” n.d. Accessed June 7, 2021. https://www.calflora.org/app/taxon?crn=9847.

“Munz’s Cholla, Cylindropuntia Munzii.” n.d. Accessed June 7, 2021. https://calscape.org/Cylindropuntia-munzii-().