Cylindropuntia bigelovii (Engelm.) F.M. Knuth

Teddy bear cholla, teddybear cholla, chollo de oso, golden-spined jumping cholla, guerra, vellas de coyote

Teddy bear cholla (pronounced “KOY-ya”) is a common North American native within its range. From a distance, the densely intermingled golden spines produce soft-looking, rounded branch tips that look a little like, well, teddy bears. They are found in deserts at elevations between 100–300′ (30–91 m).

Plants: These multiply branched cacti are up to 6½′ (2 m) high, sometimes looking like trees, other times like shrubs. Each stem segment is 1½–7″ (4–18 cm) long and ⅜–¾″ (1–2 cm) in diameter, and greenish-purple to purple in color. The areoles from which the spines appear are tan to brown; spines are in groups of 6-8, ⅜–⅝″ (1–1.8 cm) long. The spines are yellow to golden in color, and so dense that they intermingle with each other, producing a golden (or silvery) fuzzy appearance that looks soft from a distance.

Flowers: Usually yellowish green, but may be yellow, gold, bronze, red, rose, or magenta.

Fruits: Wrinkled, leathery spineless fruits are yellowish green or reddish in color and less than ¾″ (2 cm) long.

Habitats: Deserts, between 100–300′ (30–91 m).

These cholla, like their cousins jumping cholla, have a reputation for launching attacks on unwary passers-by. I can personally attest to this, having found a good-sized clump embedded in the leather of my shoe. There are two reasons for this reputation. First, cholla have glochids, tiny groups of spines that detach easily and implant themselves into skin, causing immediate irritation. The second reason is that small portions of chollas routinely break off, littering the desert floor, attaching easily to passing victims, and growing new cacti wherever they end up.

Online References:

References:

Older scientific or horticultural names

Cylindropuntia bigelovii description by Thomas H. Kent, not updated.

© FloraFinder.org. All rights reserved.