Cholla Wood

Cylindropuntia is a genus of cacti, the genus is made up of over twenty different species commonly known as chollas, native to northern Mexico and the Southwestern United States. They are known for their barbed spines that tenaciously attach to skin, fur, and clothing. Stands of cholla are called cholla gardens. Individuals within these colonies often exhibit the same DNA, as they were formerly tubercles of an original plant.

Cholla wood is the skeleton of a cholla plant after it dies. When the plant dies, the green outer layer slowly breaks down, revealing the Cholla wood over time.