The spines of the jumping cholla cactus slide in with ease, but they’re grueling to extract. You can thank their barbs. ByKatherine J. Wu Tuesday, November 20, 2018 NOVA NextNOVA Next This unfortunate ...

As anyone who’s gotten too close to a jumping cholla cactus can attest, the experience is singularly painful — and difficult to resolve, as the cactus’ spines are particularly stubborn to remove.

Spend any amount of time out in the desert, and chances are you've encountered a jumping cholla. It happens to the best of us. The cylindropuntia fulgida, AKA chain-fruit or jumping cholla, has a ...

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Beware the jumping cholla, Cylindropuntia fulgida. This shrubby, branching cactus will - if provoked by touching - anchor its splayed spines in the flesh of the offender. The barbed ...