Chollas, not to be confused with the Chola dynasty, are a genus of cactus native to northern Mexico and southwestern United States. Known for their barbed spines, they will stick to your clothes/skin. Some species of Chollas form hollow driftwoods with holes along them which are used a lot in aquariums to provide shelter for fishes.
Cholla stands are called Cholla gardens, a particularly famous one can be found in Joshua Tree National Park. I was particularly excited to visit it, but I found the garden flooded by visitors casually walking off trail amongst the plants, destroying young plants and compacting soil, ensuring long-term damage. While I blame the visitors for the bad behaviour, the fact that NPS does not control crowds is a shame.
Exploring Free Green Cascadia 