Cholla Transport

Cholla (cho-ya) is a cactus that is well known for its barbed spines that unrelentingly attach to skin, fur and clothing. One variety, the jumping cholla, has spiny segments that easily detach and seem to "jump" onto passersby, aiding in its effort to later fall off and propagate in a new location.

If you look closely, the cow in this image has a piece of green cholla on her upper ribs. She must have brushed-up on some while grazing through the desert. Like bees help plants to reproduce by spreading pollen, cows and other animals in the desert help the cacti jungle to spread and diversify by transporting such flora.