Endurance, Courage, Power, and Beauty

— Before anything is said, there needs to be a clarification. All cacti are succulents, but not all succulents are cacti. Therefore, the Aloe Vera plant, for example, is not a cactus. Also, simply because a plant may have thorns and resemble a cactus, it does not mean they are in the cactus family. For example, the Ocotillo shrub is succulent and has spines, but it is not a cactus.

Cacti can be associated with a lot of qualities depending on the culture. First and foremost, cacti symbolize endurance, courage, and power. One cannot deny they can also be simply beautiful, whether flowering on not. Just look at some of the examples below. Strength is another trait often associated with cacti. They are able to survive some of the harshest environments (but not my home). Through their spines, they also symbolize protection, whether physical or spiritual. Because cacti bloom and flower, as you will see below, they also represent motherhood in some cultures. That is because cacti bear flowers and fruits in even the most difficult conditions.

According to Wikipedia, cacti “are native to the Americas.” There is an exception to that, though. The Rhipsalis baccifera is also found in Africa and Sri Lanka. That explains in part why cacti are so common to my eyes. I grew up in northeast Brazil, a semi-arid region of the country, where we would find plenty of cacti around in the countryside. Since moving to Texas in the 1980s, I’ve felt quite at home with the environment for the most part.

The first cactus I featured here was photographed in Zion NP. That is a Beavertail cactus. Its name comes from the fact the pads resemble a beaver’s tail. They are one of the most cold-hardy prickly pear cacti, able to withstand temperatures as low as 20ºF (-6.5ºC).

Speaking of Prickly Pear cacti, they are known for their flavorful fruit and showy flowers. The scientific name of the prickly pear is Opuntia. The photo with the fruits was made at Inks Lake SP, and the cactus flower and bee photo was made at Granger Lake. Both are located in central Texas. Prickly Pear cacti are characterized by their flat, oval pads that are covered in spines. The spines help to protect the plant from predators. Prickly pear cacti produce beautiful flowers that range in color from yellow to orange to red. The flowers are followed by fruits, which are also edible. The fruits are pear-shaped and can be yellow, red, or purple. One interesting fact about these cacti is that they are able to reproduce asexually by producing new pads from their existing pads. If you ever come to Central Texas, you will find some parts of the state covered with this cactus.

Another common cactus variety in Texas is the Cholla cactus. It is native to the southwestern United States and Mexico. In fact, the last photo in this section was made at Carlsbad Caverns NP. This cactus is known for its sharp spines that can easily attach to skin, fur, and clothing. Chollas are also known for their cylindrical stems that are segmented into joints, as you can see in the three photos that follow. There are 35 species of cholla cacti. One species of Cholla cactus, Cylindropuntia leptocaulis, is sometimes called the “desert Christmas cactus” or “Christmas cholla.” However, this cholla is not closely related to the Christmas cactus that you may know.

One of my favorite national parks in the US is Big Bend NP. Its remoteness is one of the main attractions, but the landscape, flora, and fauna cannot be overlooked. This is a park that often gives visitors the impression they are the first person to ever set foot in some areas. These next three cacti were all photographed in Big Bend NP.

The first photo is that of a Strawberry Pitaya cactus. It is native to the Chihuahuan Desert in the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. They are characterized by their long, straw-colored spines and their bright pink or red fruit, which resembles a strawberry. Strawberry pitaya cacti grow in clumps and can reach heights of up to 3 feet (roughly 1 meter). They produce flowers in the spring and summer, which are followed by the fruit in the fall.

Claret cup cacti, also known as hedgehog cacti, are a group of cacti also native to the southwestern United States and Mexico. They are characterized by their small, cylindrical stems that are covered in spines. Claret cup cacti are relatively small, typically growing no more than 6 inches (15 cm) tall. However, they can form large clumps, with individual plants growing close together. In the spring, claret cup cacti produce beautiful flowers that are typically red or orange in color. The flowers are quite large for a cactus, often measuring up to 2 inches (5 cm) in diameter.

Finally, in this group, you see the Rainbow cactus. Rainbow cacti are a type of cactus that have bands of different colors on their spines. They are also native to the southwestern United States and Mexico and are typically found in dry, rocky areas. This variety is known as Texas Rainbow Cactus, Golden Rainbow Hedgehog Cactus, or Yellow Pitaya, among other names. It grows to 15 inches (38 cm) or so, with a 4-inch (10-cm) diameter. As shown in this photo, flowers are about 3-6 inches (7.5-15.0 cm) long and are pale yellow to orange with a touch of magenta on the outside.

The last photo in this post is the Lace Hedgehog cactus. Its scientific name is Echinocereus reichenbachii. It is a small, cylindrical cactus native to the Chihuahuan Desert and parts of northern Mexico and the southern United States. It is one of the smaller Echinocereus species, reaching 3.0-11.8 in (7.5-30.0 cm) tall and 1.6-3.9 in (4.0-10 cm) wide. This cactus gets its name from the pattern of its spines, which resembles lace. You can see what elaborate work that is. Although this photo does not have it blooming, the flowers are bright pink or purple, with a yellow center. This photo was captured at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, here in Austin, Texas.

This post was written in response to Denzil Nature’s challenge this week about cacti.