tasajillo
- noun
- /tɑːsəˈhijoʊ/
- US
- The tasajillo is often found in desert landscapes.
Examples
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Have you ever seen a tasajillo up close?
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We spotted a tasajillo growing along the desert trail.
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The tasajillo is well adapted to survive in hot, dry climates.
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Birds often perch on the spiny branches of the tasajillo for protection.
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The tasajillo cactus can thrive in the harsh conditions of the desert.
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While hiking in the Southwest, we spotted a beautiful tasajillo growing along the trail.
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The small tasajillo is known for its unique spines that provide protection from herbivores.
Synonyms
A cactus with jointed round stems that have sharp spines, found in the southwestern United States and Mexico
A cactus that grows like a small tree with very sharp spines
Surface Forms
Etymology
Tasajillo is a Spanish regional name for a small, spiny cactus from northern Mexico and the southwestern United States, probably coming from a local Spanish or Indigenous word for the plant. So, the name points to this thin, jointed, spiny cactus — a helpful way to remember tasajillo is as the 'little cactus' people in that region used to name for its shape and size.