cholla

noun

chol·la ˈchȯi-yə

: any of numerous shrubby opuntias chiefly of the southwestern U.S. and Mexico that have needlelike spines partly enclosed in a papery sheath and cylindrical joints

called also cholla cactus

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A shrubby cactus chiefly of the southwestern United States and Mexico, a cholla has cylindrical joints and needlelike spines partly enclosed in a papery sheath. Chollas vary greatly in size and have small flowers that are sometimes yellow-green and inconspicuous, but usually of more striking colors. One cholla, the desert Christmas cactus, bears bright red fruits through the winter. Living plants serve as food for desert animals. Cholla wood, a hollow cylinder with regularly spaced holes, is used for fuel and decorative novelties. Some cholla fruit is edible.

Examples of cholla in a Sentence

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Cactus spines are not toxic, but getting pierced by a jumping cholla, prickly pear or other cactus spine can be painful and could lead to infection. —

Tiffany Acosta, The Arizona Republic, 5 June 2024 From summer into fall, berries and cactus fruit, including cholla, saguaro, and prickly pear, become an important part of the diet. —

Phil Bourjaily, Field & Stream, 28 Mar. 2024 As the light catches the cholla needles, the cactus glows like a neon sign in Vegas. —

Maggie Downs, Los Angeles Times, 25 Mar. 2024 Heading south on Gooseneck Trail, the route winds among saguaro and cholla cactus, crossing Rio Verde Drive at the 0.8-mile point. —

Mare Czinar, The Arizona Republic, 22 Mar. 2024 See all Example Sentences for cholla