a very unscientific lesson I have learned about cactus (TZ maybe you should read this)

[Kali]

Everybody knows cactus has sharp spines right? Well, there is a group of cacti, the chollas (pronounce the two "l" as a "y") that deserve special consideration. There are known as "jointed" cactus because they grow in segments that break off and can root easily - an adaptive form of reproduction. Some are quite beautiful and look like furry animals. In particular the aptly named Teddy Bear Cholla, which is also known as the Jumping Cactus. There is a reason it is called by that second name. The scientific approach explains that the joints easily separate from the main stems and the spins attach to passing animals for transportation.

Anyone who as actually been around them knows that is not true. The REALITY is these are very sensitive beings and if one is respectful and sincerly flattering to them, one will be fine. HOWEVER. They do NOT tolerate disrespect, drunkeness, rudeness, violence, or even bad thoughts about them. They can sense fear, too. So please if you are ever in a cactus forest where Jumping Cholla live - remember to tell them they are beautiful, walk with awareness and respect, take only flattering photos.

Because if you are rude, or careless...they WILL surround you and attack.
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Clearly this young man was rude to them. Probably tried to hit or pee on one. Obviously they pushed him down and -yes- JUMPED on him. True story. You have been warned.

:rofl:

[Richardo]

1. I grew up around those things and they are no fun.

The spines are nearly microscopically small, thinner than a human hair, and are well-nigh impossible to remove all at once. They work their way in and you can get spine-pokes for weeks after you think you've got them all.

No me gusta jumping cactus. :shudder:

[Kali]

5. those are called gloccids

and they are worse on so-called spineless cactus - I agree I would almost rather get a couple pieces of jumping cholla in me than handle something with a lot of those "hairs" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glochid Processing wild prickly Pear tunas is the worst.

With the chollas and some others, like the agaves, they must leave some kind of toxins behind because those suckers can hurt for a LONG time after removing the actual spines.

We have Cane Cholla around here - it isn't too bad but stepping on a fresh green one barefoot will wake your ass up!

[TZ]

2. OMG!!

I'm beginning to wonder about AZ- between the scorpions, snakes and now aggressive cactus...I think I need to bring a suit of armor with me on my visit....

[Kali]

4. NO!

a suit of armor would be both disrespectful AND show fear - don't do it!:rofl:


(half)seriesly - what would happen is one would attach somewhere to one of the armor connecting pieces and would either work its way inside, or more likely ride with you to your hotel room and hide in a chair or the bed and wait until you were unprotected. I know these things. I have lived them. I learned at a young age about cholla.:rofl:


Had a boyfriend in college who was from New Yawk. He would get all mad and say the whole place was filled with sharp pointy stickers, thorns, and spines. And half of them are poisonous. Everything either wants to cut, stick, stab, poke, sting, or bite you.

[hobbit709]

6. Here in TX everything either bites, stings, burns,

or breaks your heart.

[Capn Sunshine]

20. oh, yeah, they will follow you home and wait for you on your porch

These things , if you get on their bad side, are B-A-D motherfuckers.

Best to walk in beauty and Hozho.

[hobbit709]

7. You don't want to wear armor in 120+° heat

you'll get heat stroke in 30 seconds flat.

[Rosie1223]

3. Clearly, he should have taken the 2 stroke penalty.

:rofl:

[conscious evolution]

8. Like those hospital gloves are gonna help!

:rofl:

[BlueIris]

9. Nature walk fail.

:-)

[Kali]

12. Golf.

In the desert. That whole concept is a big FAIL, to me.

[BlueIris]

14. Yeah, I just found the golf bit at FAILblog.

Or maybe he really did just fail to complement the cacti.

[RandomThoughts]

10. If they earned respect, I would respect them.

Otherwise, if I thought something was true, I would say it.


Although I do believe in being nice.

[azmouse]

11. I had a cholla in my yard when I lived in Tucson.

A repairman at my house very lightly brushed against it when he was working... OMG!
I could tell he was in pain when he handed me a pliers and asked me to pull several pieces of cactus out of his upper arm.
I felt so bad for him. OUCH!

[JCMach1]

22. Even my little chollas cause me grief...

[Ptah]

13. Was this guy's father David Grundman?

All those cactus talk among themselves.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cactus_plugging

[Kali]

15. ha

it has a wikipedia page!:rofl:

is there a you tube of that song?

also needs to be one of Al Perry's "We Got Cactus"

And there is a new Rev. Horton Heat song about Texas NOT having Saguaros.

[hobbit709]

16. The Austin Lounge Lizards did a song "Saguaro"

about Grundman. It's on their 1984 album "Creatures From The Black Saloon" Unfortunately it's not on youtube.

[Ptah]

17. I'm stealing that photo.

[Fire Walk With Me]

18. Tree-huggers shouldn't branch out indiscriminately.

Sorry about the pun. Sort of.

[Odin2005]

19. OMFG, LOL!!!

:rofl:

[begin_within]

21. I have had a small one of those stuck on the back of my hand,

and it was excruciating. They have hooks that get into your flesh and they have to be yanked out one at a time, and it's a living hell. I cannot imagine what that poor guy went through. I bet he had to be anesthetized and hospitalized. They are known as "jumping cholla" because the seem to literally jump off the bush onto you.