25 Amazing Jumping Cholla Facts!!

Jumping chollas are a stunning giant cactus that is found inside the Sonoran Desert. However, despite its exquisite beauty, many might be surprised by how this plant comes with an unpleasant aspect. Its spines made of barbed Cactus could attach to animals and people that were too close to them, leading to an unpleasant reaction that is common. Discover more amazing Jumping Cholla Facts below!!

The plant is known for its ability to thrive in the harsh conditions of deserts. The plant has evolved a fantastic adaptation to shield its self from hungry plant-eaters. Just like Penguins cholla’s jumping can symbolize the struggle for survival and strength even when confronted with challenging situations in life.

Below are our educational and entertaining jumping cholla facts that is sure to delight you.

Interesting Jumping cholla Facts:

1. Jumping chollas can be between 6 and 15 feet tall and about eight feet wide.
2. The Jumping Chola is shaped like a tree. It is comprised of a trunk and numerous branches that droop. The entire plant is covered with wart-like projections.
3. The cholla’s stem is made up of a variety of segments. The cholla stores water and also performs photosynthesis (uses sunlight’s energy to create food using carbon dioxide and water).
4. The amount of jumping chollas typically is found close to one another and gives the impression of a vast forest.
5. The jumping cholla grows 0.5 or 1 inches long, long-lasting spines instead of leaves. Six to 12 spines typically develop from one areole.
6. Long, silver spines cover young branches. Short spines less cover the older or slower growing units. Older stems have rough, scaly bark, and they’re dark brown. This unique bark appears after the removal of the spines.
7. A large portion of the jumping cholla is coated with spines. The dense “spiny coat” acts like insulation that stops excessive heat from the plant and helps keep hungry herbivores at an appropriate distance.
8. Spines are encased in a thin paper-like sheath which may be tan gold, silver or white-coloured. The reflective layer creates beautiful, vivid effects following the illumination of the jumping cholla by light.
9. The detachable and easily detached spines are the reason for the unusual name given to the plant. The spines appear to be capable of jumping and attacking both animals and humans who can bravely venture into this plant. This is the reason for the name, jumping the cholla.
10. Jumping cholla is known for its barbed spines. The barbs are microscopic. However, they can easily penetrate the skin, making it challenging to remove those spines from the body.
11. The blooms of cholla jump between February and March. The flowers are yellowish-greenish in colour. They appear at the top of the branch.
12. Jumping cholla produces pear-shaped fruit hanging from the branches. New flowers emerge on the fruits of previous seasons, which results in the formation of hanging chains of fruit that could be as long as 2 feet. The jumping cholla is also referred to by the name of “hanging chain cholla” due to the unusual shape the fruits exhibit.
13. The jumping cholla typically produces sterile fruits. Plants usually propagate via portions that are part of the stem.
14. The fruit of jumping cholla can be a vital food source and water to deer bighorn sheep over prolonged droughts.
15. The cholla jumper lives for many decades out in the open.

Cholla Cactus Facts!!

Between 30 and 35 species of cholla, Cacti have been discovered, and they belong to the Genus Cylindropuntia. The cactus plants were classified under the Genus Opuntia; However, today, this genus has cacti that have flattened stems (like the prickly Pear) but only. The most distinctive characteristic of cholla cacti is the cylindrical stems. While the majority of the species of cholla cacti can be found throughout North America, some of them can be found in other regions too. Below are some fascinating facts about the Cholla Cactus.

1. Stems that are succulent of the cholla Cacti serve the purpose of storing water and photosynthesis, fruit and flower production and so on. These stems have been modified to become branches.
2. They have papers that protect the spines. These sheaths are vibrant in some species, which is one of the reasons for the distinctive appearance of the plant.
3. The papery sheaths are designed to reflect light and to protect the stems from heat extremes. The majority of the cholla Cacti, which grow in extreme heat, have their limbs covered by numerous spines.
4. For most species, the leaves are altered to spines; some species may produce leaves right before flowering.
5. The colours of the flowers of the Cholla Cactus can range from shades of reddish to yellow-green and can be seen in a variety of species. The majority of them are trees and shrubs. However, there are creepers as well.
6. Cholla cactus wood is utilized for bird perches, making crafts, etc.
7. The most common species are the jumping cholla-cactus (Cylindropuntia fulgida) and the teddy bear cholla cactus (Cylindropuntia bigelovii).
8. The stems that make up the jumping cholla disintegrate easily and are frequently attached to passers-by’s skin and clothing. It’s like that the stems were jumping on pedestrians, that is why it’s called. It’s also known as hanging cholla since the fruits are an elongated chain that hangs down.
9. When it comes to the teddy bear cholla plant appears fuzzy and soft at a distance since the stems are covered in spines. Therefore, this Cactus can be referred to as the teddy bear cholla.
10. A different species is known as silver the cholla because silvery spines characterize it. There are numerous other varieties of cholla cacti, and some are cultivated in cacti gardens.

Wrapping Up:

We hope you have enjoyed learning these incredible jumping cholla facts with us! Keep watching for more fun information! Check out some other fascinating plant information!!