Alternate name: Nylon Hedgehog Cactus

Family: Cactaceae, Cactus view all from this family

Description A small cactus with 1 cylindrical stem or several in a clump and yellowish-green or magenta flowers.
Flowers: 3/4-1" (2-2.5 cm) wide, near top of stem; petals many.
Stems: 4" (10 cm) wide; ribs 6-14.
Spines: 1/2-1" (1.5-2.5 cm) long, red, brownish, white, gray, or greenish yellow, creating bands of color on stem.
Fruit: Green, with spines eventually dropping off.
Height: 1-10" (2.5-25 cm).

Flower May-July.

Habitat Dry plains and hills.

Range Southeastern Wyoming and western South Dakota south to eastern New Mexico and western Texas.

Discussion Pitaya (pronounced pee-tah-yah) is the phonetic spelling of the original Spanish name Pitahaya, a name given to species of Echinocereus but more broadly applied to a number of cacti that produce sweet, edible fruit.