Teddy Bear Cholla

teddy bear cholla:

 COMMON NAME: Teddy Bear cholla

SCIENTIFIC NAME: Opuntia bigelovii

DESCRIPTION:

Cholla cactus has one main trunk with several branches or joints. The joints are densely covered with pale yellow-brown spines that give it a fuzzy appearance and its name. It is, however, not huggable; there are 4-10 stiff spines radiating from each areole. In addition, the spines have barbs along their sides. The flower clusters are small and yellowish-green; the fruits are nearly spineless, small and inconspicuous. It may grow to 5 feet tall. The joints break off easily and root to become new plants.

It grows in dense stands on dry rocky slopes in southern California to an elevation of 3,000 feet.


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