CHOLLA


Meaning of CHOLLA in English

Any cactus of the genus Opuntia , native to North and South America, having needlelike spines partly enclosed in a papery sheath.

Chollas vary greatly in size and have small flowers, sometimes chartreuse and inconspicuous, but usually of more striking colors. O. leptocaulis , 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 novelties. Some cholla fruit is edible.

Jumping cholla ( Opuntia bigelovii )

Grant Heilman

Britannica English dictionary.      Английский словарь Британика.