58 Arnoldia 78/5-6 « October 2021 
ee a , 4 
‘ e Si es 
5 ees — cae ¥ 
Coast Cholla (Cylindropuntia prolifera) 
“Animals take the fruit to their haunts, use the flesh, and scatter the undigested seeds in various 
directions,—certainly many fruit-bearing plants are widely distributed in this manner. Those who 
think this feature a special adaptation will see in the absence of spines in the fruit of this species, 
strong confirmation of this view. The plant would be spiny, it would be contended, in order to 
protect it against browsing creatures; while, when consumption instead of protection became 
useful to the plant, the production of spines would be arrested.” 
MEEHAN’S MONTHLY (VOL. 3) 
