Subspecies, varieties, forms and cultivars of plants belonging to the Cylindropuntia fulgida group

• Cylindropuntia fulgida (Engelm.) F.M.Knuth: (var. fulgida) Spines of stems interlaced with spines of adjacent areoles, the longest usually 2.5-3 cm; sheaths baggy; stem segments appearing spiny from afar, obscuring strongly mammillate tubercles beneath.
• Cylindropuntia fulgida f. cristata P.V.Heath: Compact, small, crested form that produces a silhouette made of heavily convoluted folds. The short living grey/green foliage is arranged only at the top of the stem. The spiny grey stem will soon form a fan-shaped or snaky ridged bush reminding of a boa asleep.
• Cylindropuntia fulgida var. mamillata (A.Schott ex Engelm.) Backeb.: Spines of stems not or little interlaced with spines of adjacent areoles, the longest usually 1-2 cm; stem segments appearing spineless or nearly so from afar, exposing strongly mammillate tubercles beneath.
• Cylindropuntia fulgida f. monstruosa P.V.Heath