Commonly called Cylindropuntia bigelovii but locally known as the Teddy-bear Cholla or Jumping Cactus, this is one of the most prominent features of the mid-level Arizona/Sonoran Desert. This cactus has the annoying characteristic of leaving its easily detached stems all over the ground. The slightest touch of a shoe or pant leg is enough to have this fuzz ball attach. The spines are vicious, possibly the worst in the plant kingdom. After instantly penetrating the skin, the barbs curl like fishhooks when they hit the moisture under the skin. This curled barb is very difficult to remove and may require a strong pair of pliers. The plant actually reproduces from these dropped stems and makes almost no seeds.
A close relative, also called Jumping Cactus, is the Cylindropuntia fulgida or chain cholla or chain fruit cholla. This plant makes long strings of green fruit, hence the name chain cholla. Like the Teddy-bear cholla, this plant also propagates from the stems that fall to the ground.
It is a learned skill to walk through the desert and avoid stepping on cactus. As you are walking, the cactus, if stepped on, will attach to the heel or bottom of the shoe and with the next step will lodge in the side of the opposite leg. I used to carry a pair of pliers on hikes with the Scouts because it was inevitable that one of the Scouts would step on a cholla. Avoiding cactus is a lesson that one learns rather quickly or the decision is made to never step foot in the wild desert again.
The dead stems of the cholla are very distinctive and used to be used for decorative lamps and other tourist trade type objects. For a long time I had a box of the stems with the intent of making one of those decorative objects, but I think the box finally got dumped when I moved a few years ago.
There are some parts of the desert, especially along the mountain skirts of the upper desert, where cholla grows in huge forests. The plants are incredibly large and fierce looking. It is not a good idea to try to walk through these areas without a great deal of caution.
I think cholla are beautiful and love to use the pictures on my computer desktop.
A close relative, also called Jumping Cactus, is the Cylindropuntia fulgida or chain cholla or chain fruit cholla. This plant makes long strings of green fruit, hence the name chain cholla. Like the Teddy-bear cholla, this plant also propagates from the stems that fall to the ground.
It is a learned skill to walk through the desert and avoid stepping on cactus. As you are walking, the cactus, if stepped on, will attach to the heel or bottom of the shoe and with the next step will lodge in the side of the opposite leg. I used to carry a pair of pliers on hikes with the Scouts because it was inevitable that one of the Scouts would step on a cholla. Avoiding cactus is a lesson that one learns rather quickly or the decision is made to never step foot in the wild desert again.
The dead stems of the cholla are very distinctive and used to be used for decorative lamps and other tourist trade type objects. For a long time I had a box of the stems with the intent of making one of those decorative objects, but I think the box finally got dumped when I moved a few years ago.
There are some parts of the desert, especially along the mountain skirts of the upper desert, where cholla grows in huge forests. The plants are incredibly large and fierce looking. It is not a good idea to try to walk through these areas without a great deal of caution.
I think cholla are beautiful and love to use the pictures on my computer desktop.
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