Teddy Bear Cholla
My dad was fascinated by this cactus, so we stopped to take pictures. We called it a Teddy Bear Cactus, but on looking it up I see that it is a type of Cholla. It was named for its furry "cuddly" appearance but up close and personal, it is a densely spined plant which you will be sorry if you try to hug it. The dense covering of spines shields the stem from exposure to intense sunlight.The plants grow 3 to 5 feet tall, and their many short branches are readily detached by animals or even wind and then take root in the soil. In fact, this is the main method of propagation of this species of cholla - the plants do produce flowers and fruits but the seeds are usually sterile. Sometimes whole hillsides can be covered with a forest of these plants, all derived from fallen, rooted branches. So don't feel bad if you break a piece off - you will be helping the plant to spread itself around.Teddy...
