Expert: Greg Simpson - 10/16/2004

Question
I am trying to find out the identity of a cacti which I was told from the nursery it is called a pencil cactus. It has small round cylinder shaped leaves. It has a stalk which looks like a small tree trunk. The leaves are approx. one half inch long, and grow end to end off the stalk. I can send you a picture of the cacti, if you think you might need it.I am trying to identify it so I can look it up to see the complete story of this cacti.

Answer
Dear Mike,

Check out this website: http://www.desert-tropicals.com/Plants/Cactaceae/Opuntia_leptocaulis.html
If that is not your plant, please email me pictures to gregandkat@msn.com and I will try to identify it for you. Hope this helps.

Sincerely,

Greg