{"id":1549,"date":"2021-09-06T05:11:00","date_gmt":"2021-09-06T12:11:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/forestcamping.com\/blog\/?p=1549"},"modified":"2021-11-13T15:16:00","modified_gmt":"2021-11-13T22:16:00","slug":"jumping-cholla","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.forestcamping.com\/dow\/suzi\/jumping-cholla\/","title":{"rendered":"Jumping Cholla"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Isn\u2019t this a pretty flower?\u00a0 It is a blossom on one of the most painful plant you never want to bump in to \u2013 the Jumping cholla (pronounced CHOY-yah).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"cholla<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019m not sure if “Jumping” is its official name. It is definitely a good descriptive term for this member of the Prickly pear family. As an old-timer told us, \u201cThe plant doesn\u2019t jump – you do.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"cholla<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\"cholla<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The term \u201cjumping\u201d comes from the plants apparent ability to throw its slender needles at a passer by.\u00a0 At the end of each needle is a tiny barb that attaches to the passer and can penetrate the skin.\u00a0 Which means if your dog can picks up some of these needles and a loving pat can transfer the Cholla’s needles to an unsuspecting human.

FYI:\u00a0 Whatever you do, approach the Jumping cholla with caution. If you happen to encounter a cholla two method are used to extract those painful needles. One is to use duct tape like a lint removing roller. The other is to smear a thick coat of Elmer’s white glue over the afflicted area, let dry completely, and peel of the glue with needles.<\/p>\n

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