Cylindropuntia bigelovii – “Teddybear Cholla”

Also Known As: Jumping Cholla
Other Botanical Names: Opuntia bigelovii
Family: Cactus (Cactaceae)
Bloom Period: Mar-May
Form: Single-stemmed, multi-branched, segmented, erect; up to 7 feet (2.3 m) tall or higher
Habitat: Rocky soils, on flats and slopes
Leaves: 4–12 spines, up to 2 inches (2.5 cm) long, pale yellow-brown, dark brown in age
Translation: “Cylindro” is Greek for “round,” and “opuntia” is an old Latin name used by Pliny, the Roman writer, in reference to the city of Opus, where spiny plants apparently grew (although not cacti); “bigelovii” is John M. Bigelow, MD, (1804-1878), a U.S. botanical collector.
Notes: In person, these cacti are quite impressive. Nothing else looks quite like them. The “Cholla Garden” in Joshua Tree National Park is well worth the price of admission; the quarter mile (0.4 km) trail takes you through a patch several acres (a few hectares) in size. Called “Teddy Bear Cholla” because of its fuzzy appearance, they are anything but soft and cuddly. The spines readily pierce skin or latch onto clothing, which usually results in a joint breaking off and attaching itself to its new host. Hence the name, “Jumping Cholla.” Any joint that comes off that way can start a new plant. This “jumping” is their primary means of reproduction; most of the flowers produce sterile seed. The ground underneath them is littered with fallen pieces; some take root, others are washed or carried away.
Native American Uses: The Cahuilla ate the buds, berries and stems, cooking and drying the buds for storage.
Animal Associations: Cactus Wrens make nests among the prickly branches, protected by the spines from their predators. Important source of water for the Desert Woodrat, which eats the flesh without getting injured by the spines and also incorporates the easily detached joints into the fortifications around the entrance of its den.