What does "cholla" mean?

Any of several species of cactus in the genus Cylindropuntia, having very spiny, cylindrical stem segments.

Cholla

Common synonyms include: cactus group name, cholla cactus, desert cactus, group name for jointed cacti, jointed cactus, jointed cactus group.

/ˈt͡ʃɔɪ.ə/ noun

noun ·Rare ·Advanced level

Noun

1
Any of several species of cactus in the genus Cylindropuntia, having very spiny, cylindrical stem segments.
"Throughout Arizona the floors of such caves are found covered with a deep bed of chollas."
2
arborescent cacti having very spiny cylindrical stem segments; southwestern United States and Mexico wordnet

"The cholla cacti were beautiful but prickly."

From a Mexican Spanish use of Spanish cholla (“head, skull”). Compare keel.