Cylindropuntia bigelovii (Opuntia bigelovii)

Matt,

You're making me feel homesick for my "adopted" state, Arizona. Shame on you!

John

P. S. Another great photograph from you of course!

Ditto, nice photo. Only been through serious "cactus
country" once and had to think: "These gotta be the
strangest forests I've ever seen."

Cheers -- MrG / http://www.vectorsite.net

I wonder if that is the same as Teddy Bear Cactus.

No, not the Jumping Cholla! That is the most evil plant in the world! I cannot recall all the pain I've felt from its nasty, horrible spines cutting into the flesh of my shins, because I've blocked the pain out for mental survival. Die, weed, die. :)

Frank B said: I wonder if that is the same as Teddy Bear Cactus.

I moved to Nevada a few months ago, and one of my first experiences with the local plant life was a jumping cholla. That wakes you up better than coffee.

I once gingerly put my finger near a jumping cholla, aware of its reputation. I'd swear that my finger got pricked when my eyes told me that my finger was not touching the spines.

Are cactus the porcupines of the plant kingdom? :)

OT, the National Academies has just released a report titled "In the Light of Evolution, Vol II: Biodiversity and Extinction."

Link http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12501

(Vol I is also available, just search the NAP website for 'in the light of evolution')

As a newcomer from the East, when I heard mention of "jumping chollas" I thought they must be like jackalopes. Then I went hiking in the Superstitions, wearing low sneakers. Those things really do hide and wait for you, then jump out of nowhere.

Henry J said: Are cactus the porcupines of the plant kingdom? :)

That is definitely the Teddy Bear Cholla (Cylindropuntia fulgida). The entry should be corrected.

You can verify by comparing the picture with the one at the aforementioned http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teddy-bear_Cholla.

See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jumping_cholla for the real Jumping Cholla.

I know. I've stepped on 'em both at one time or another.

Those things really do hide and wait for you, then jump out of nowhere.

Cholla, the memories they bring to mind. As a transplanted westerner to the east, I still have dreams about the enchanting Cholla and the consequences after an accidental encounter. But I still missed them a lot. Specially every time I take an "easterner" to visit my old stumping grounds. It always comes to they expressing their disbelieve for the powers of the Cholla until they touch it, then all hell brake loose and I love it !!!!!!!!! :-)

I think the plant on the rigt is playing aig guitar. He might be a Cylindropuntia funk-gida. ;)

Cheese and crackers, RIGHT and AIR GUITAR. bleh, I blame my keyboard.

Jim said: Cheese and crackers, RIGHT and AIR GUITAR. bleh, I blame my keyboard.

Having been born and raised a few miles from where this photo was take, I can assure you the "Teddy Bear" cholla is even more painful when backed into than is the so-called jumping cactus. Sixty years ago in my youth, ranchers and others would toss a match into the Teddy Bear causing it to flair up, burn the thorns off and quickly die out. The idea was to give cattle a treat that wouldn't stick in their face and fester. Now, this bad idea would get you a record and all sorts of other bad things.

Just a comment on the "Jumping Cholla." My understanding is that more than one kind of cholla is commonly referred to as "jumping..." To say that this is a Teddy Bear Cholla and not a Jumping Cholla, or visa versa, is kind of silly (I believe 'jumping' is a secondary, or slang name in all cases) A little googling will quickly find numerous sites that refer to either or both the Opuntia fulgida (Chain-Fruit Cholla) and Opuntia bigelovii (Teddy Bear Cholla) as Jumping Cholla. The reason for the "Jumping" moniker is due to the easily separated joints that both these plants have so barely brushing against one will usually result in 'getting attacked', if you will, leaving the impression that the cactus jumped on you.

Dave said: The reason for the "Jumping" moniker is due to the easily separated joints that both these plants have so barely brushing against one will usually result in 'getting attacked', if you will, leaving the impression that the cactus jumped on you.