Paleo Foraging

Cylindropuntia imbricata (Haw.) F.M. Knuth

Synonyms: = Opuntia arborescens, O. imbricata, O. cardenche, O. lloydii, Cereus imbricatus

Common names: Tree cholla, chandelier cactus, cane cactus, candelabra, Indian fig, entraña

Navajo: xwoctítshahiitshoh – “cactus, awled, big” (Elmore 1944:65)

Papago: wipinoi (Castetter and Underhill 1935:14)

Tewa: jo (Robbins et al. 1916:62)

Location in Texas: all TX except E, NE & further S; not uncommon (as ornamental) in Travis Co.

Food

Flowers – when buds, were eaten by the Papago (Castetter and Underhill 1935:14). They were baked in earth ovens and dried for storage (Castetter and Underhill 1935:15).

Fruit – cleft sticks were used by the Tewa as tongs to gather the spiny fruits into a basket (Robbins et al. 1916:62). They were rubbed with a stone to remove their spines, then they were boiled and eaten, sometimes with cornmeal porridge and sugar added (Robbins et al. 1916:62).

Stems – when young, were eaten by the Papago as greens (Castetter and Underhill 1935:14). They were baked in earth ovens and dried for storage (Castetter and Underhill 1935:15).

Gathering Season – fruit: summer (Robbins et al. 1916:62). Shoots and buds: summer (Castetter and Underhill 1935:14).