A Dense Defense

The lethal and thick tangle of spines atop a fishhook barrel (Ferocactus wislizenii) cactus in late autumn. The reason for the name Fishhook is... more

by Douglas Taylor

Title

A Dense Defense

Artist

Douglas Taylor

Medium

Photograph - Fine Art Digital Photography

Description

The lethal and thick tangle of spines atop a fishhook barrel (Ferocactus wislizenii) cactus in late autumn. The reason for the name "Fishhook" is readily apparent in this macro photograph made in the Tucson Mountains and Saguaro National Park west of Tucson, Arizona. The strong, stiff and razor sharp hooked spines can grow to be over 4 inches (100 mm) long.

The yellow fruits are almost ripe by early winter and are about an inch (25 mm) in diameter. They form concentric rings near the top of the cylindrical cactus. The outermost fruits are from the flowers that bloomed first in the middle of summer, and the inner fruits are of the last flowers all crowded together near the top at the end of the season.

The cactus puts forth this impressive growth of spines in autumn to protect the tender young tissues at its apex from both depredation by desert critters and to insulate from potential freezing temperatures of cold, desert winter nights. With adequate winter rains, the fishhook barrel cactus will put on a growth spurt from its apex in spring, and these same spines will shade this growth from the blistering summer sun.

The fruit is a staple for animals who can navigate the labyrinth of these spines, and are a primary source of food for antelope ground squirrels during the lean times of late winter when other food sources are scarce.

A mature Fishhook Barrel cactus can be over 6 feet tall and 2 feet wide. They are also (mistakenly) called "compass" barrel cactus because they invariably lean to the south, though the common name actually belongs to a similar Ferocactus species. The range of the Fishhook Barrel includes southern Arizona and New Mexico, southwestern Texas, and across the border in northern Mexico at elevations under 4,500 feet.

Uploaded

December 17th, 2023