![]() Jumping cholla lives for decades in the wild. Plant often propagates via parts of the stem.įruit of jumping cholla represents important source of food and water for deer and bighorn sheep during long periods of drought. Jumping cholla usually produces sterile fruit. Jumping cholla is also known as "hanging chain cholla" due to unusual morphology of the fruit. New flowers develop on the fruit from previous season, resulting in formation of hanging chains of fruit that can be 2 feet long. Jumping cholla develops pear-shaped fruit that hangs from the branches. Advertisement Video of the Day Step 1 Cover the plant with the tarp, tucking it up against the base of the plant as well as. Jumping cholla blooms from February to March. The cholla thorns so easily come loose that it is called 'jumping cactus.' So whether you want to eliminate the danger or move a cactus specimen plant to a better location, safety precautions are the major concern. Barbs are microscopically small but they easily penetrate the skin and additionally complicate and impede removal of the spines from the body. Spines look like they are able to jump and attack humans and animals that are brave enough to approach this plant, hence the name - jumping cholla. This layer reflects light and produces beautiful, colorful effect after illumination of jumping cholla with light.Įasily detachable spines are responsible for an unusual name of this plant. Spines are covered with thin, paper-like sheath that can be tan, gold, silver or white colored. Dense "spiny coat" acts like a shield which prevents overheating of the plant and keeps hungry herbivores on a safe distance. ![]() This unusual bark becomes visible after removal of the spines.Īlmost entire jumping cholla is covered with spines. Old branches have rough, scaly bark and they are dark brown colored. It’s the chain fruit cholla also known as the jumping cholla for its habit of jumping from a parent plant or the ground onto the skin or clothing of a passerby. Old or slow growing branches bear lesser number of short spines. Long, silver spines cover young branches. 6 to 12 spines usually grow from a single areole. Jumping cholla develops 0.5 to 1 inch long spines instead of leaves. Large number of jumping chollas often grows close to each other and creates impression of large forest. It stores water and performs photosynthesis (uses energy of sun to produce food from water and carbon dioxide). ![]() Stem of jumping cholla consists of numerous segments. Entire plant is covered with wart-like projections. It has one trunk with multiple drooping branches. Jumping cholla can reach 6 to 15 feet in height and around 8 feet in diameter. Population of jumping cholla is large and stable in the wild. This plant is safe from negative human activities because it inhabits harsh and hostile environment that humans rarely visit. Jumping cholla can be found on the altitudes of 4.000 feet. Jumping cholla is adapted to the life in arid areas. This plant can be found in Sonoran desert and southwestern parts of the USA.
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