This is a cholla cactus (said choy-ya in English). There are actually two or three different cholla cactus in the photo. The large one is a Cylindropuntia fulgida the long strands hanging down are the fruit. Just to the right in the photo is a Staghorn Cholla or Cylindropuntia versicolor. There are also some Cylindropuntia bigelovii or teddy bear cholla in the background. In some place in the Arizona Sonora Desert you can hardly walk without being in danger of spines from these lovely plants. The spines are barbed and in some cases, if you get stuck, it will take a strong pull with a pair of pliers to get the spines out. That is not a pleasant experience.
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