Impenetrable Defense

From a distance the stems of the teddy-bear cholla cactus (cylindropuntia bigelovii) appear to be soft and fuzzy; almost cuddly. But don't get all... more

by Douglas Taylor

Title

Impenetrable Defense

Artist

Douglas Taylor

Medium

Photograph - Fine Art Digital Photography

Description

From a distance the stems of the teddy-bear cholla cactus (cylindropuntia bigelovii) appear to be soft and fuzzy; almost cuddly. But don't get all touchy-feely when you first see one. Doing so will teach you a lesson you will not soon forget!

This small stem, or segment of the cactus is only a few inches long and about an inch in diameter, but it is covered with hundreds of needle sharp spines which have microscopic barbs at the end. In other plants these spines would be leaves, but for this cactus they are both an impenetrable defense and part of a remarkable propagation strategy.

Just the merest touch will drive the sharp spines into clothing and skin, and the barbs make removal both very difficult and quite painful. The stems break off easily and readily once this happens, and on shoes, fur, clothing or skin this cactus will ride until being dislodged. Once on the ground the stem segment will quite possibly sprout roots and become a clone of the original plant. This is why the teddy-bear cholla are usually found in clusters.

Cylindropuntia bigelovii grows up to about 6 feet tall in desert regions to elevations about 3,000 feet in the "Low Desert" or Colorado Desert of Southern California, and in other Sonoran Desert regions of the Southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico. Though they grow excruciatingly slowly, after a few decades the very careful planting of this teddy-bear cholla cactus can make for a formidable and effective defensive perimeter.

Uploaded

September 19th, 2023