Today, we’d like to take a look at a plant that is especially close to our, er, hearts – the cactus! The following pictures will prove that this prickly green friend can be quite a source of amusement.
First, let us introduce the species with a little help from Wikipedia: “Cacti are distinctive and unusual plants (you bet), which are adapted to extremely arid and hot environments (absolutely), showing a wide range of anatomical and physiological features (ah-huh, we’re listening) which conserve water. Their stems have adapted to become photosynthetic and succulent, while the leaves have become the spines for which cacti are well known. Cacti come in a wide range of shapes and sizes” – though we all know that size doesn’t matter.
Cactus in front of a hotel in Cinque Terre, Italy
This red cactus is apparently common in Yucatan and even said to have, er, enhancing properties if boiled and eaten as a soup. Right…
The next specimen belongs to the Cephalocereus gaumeri species and is often referred to as "old man" cactus, because of the white wool on top looking like long white hairs – not what you’re thinking. The limp things hanging down from the cactus fruits are flower remains. Maybe it’s not a cactus man after all?
Cephalocereus gaumeri
What this cactus seems to have too much of…
... this one seems to lack. Little blue pills, anyone?
It’ll take some balls to come out of hiding.
Tom, Dick and Harry playing the same old tune…
Pretties in pink.
Subtlety is not his strength.
Going somewhere?
At the risk of this post missing good taste by a few inches, here’s a real “cactus” problem regarding someone’s “red ball cactus” that will leave you speechless: “I believe that is the name, it was a green stock with a red prickly ball on the top. I received it in first grade and a few years later, the ball dried up. I still have it and the ball is still attached but it is dried up and yellow/brown.... Could you let me know if there is anything I could do to make my cactus less overwhelming?”
Told you! There’s nothing we could possibly add after this excursion into nature’s sense of humour.
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