Several kinds of plants go by the name of Christmas Cactus, but the one native to our Chihuahuan Desert is a member of the genus Opuntia, a true cactus related to cholla and prickly pear cacti. You've heard skinny people called human string-beans. Well, the Christmas Cactus is the string-bean of the Southwestern cacti. The diameter of its stems tends to be around a half inch, even as it grows to be as much as 5 to 6 feet tall.
Although capable of growing out in the open, they more commonly skulk
within the perimeter of other shrubs, often escaping notice unless you happen to brush
against one. At that point, sharp spines tend to get them noticed. The greenish yellow
to bronze flowers are relatively inconspicuous, too. In fact, the only thing that
really attracts attention is what leads to the common name of Christmas Cactus. As the
leaves of many desert shrubs are shed with the onset of cold weather, the bright red
fruits suddenly stand out, Nature's own Christmas tree ornaments.
Contributor: Arthur H. Harris, Laboratory for Environmental Biology, Centennial Museum, University of Texas at El Paso.
Desert Diary is a joint production of the Centennial Museum and KTEP National Public Radio at the University of Texas at El Paso.