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Art by Audrey Carver • Arte por Audrey Carver.

My Kumeyaay name is

Mi nombre Kumiai es

Melltat

HEAR MY NAME

ESCUCHA MI NOMBRE

I'm also known as

También se me conoce como

Teddy bear cholla

Cholla guerra

Opuntia bigelovii

Learn more about me • Más información sobre mí

I am a cactus with round branches covered completely in spines. I may look like a fuzzy teddy bear, but my spines are sharp! Desert woodrats use my spines for protection, guarding their burrows with my branches when they fall off to keep the coyotes and foxes away. My spines have been used as tools and if you are careful to pick through my needle sharp spines, my buds and the fruits are edible. I love hot and dry places, which may make me resilient to climate changes but my ability to disperse to new areas when temperatures are not suitable will be important for my future.

Soy un cactus con ramas redondas cubiertas de espinas. Puedo parecer un osito de peluche peludo, pero mis espinas son afiladas. Las ratas de bosque del desierto usan mis espinas para protegerse, protegiendo sus madrigueras con mis ramas cuando se caen para mantener alejados a los coyotes y los zorros. Mis espinas han sido usadas como herramientas y si tienes cuidado de escoger entre mis espinas afiladas como agujas, mis brotes y los frutos son comestibles. Me encantan los lugares cálidos y secos, lo que puede hacerme resistente a los cambios climáticos, pero mi capacidad para moverme a nuevas áreas cuando las temperaturas no son adecuadas será importante para mi futuro.

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