Cholla in bloom

CHOY-yuh, in the American Spanish pronunciation. The various cholla species are among the most obnoxious thorn plants around. The plant breaks easily at the stem joints--one variety is called "jumping cholla" because the pieces break off so easily it seems it jumps onto you--and then the stem segments can in turn take root to form a new plant! They _are_ native, tho-- Arrow Canyon area, southern Nevada, USA.