On a recent trip to Arizona, I fell in love with the gorgeous cacti that adorn the State's dry land. Here are some cacti pictures that I took while hiking through the desert. The Saguaro Cactus (Carnegiea gigantea) is shown in the above photos.
When people grow old, or are injured, they often rely on canes or walking sticks to help support their stance. Similarly, as cacti age, they grow arms to help support their posture. One can determine the age of the cactus by the amount of arms it has. Cacti only begin to develop arms between the ages of 50-75. Check out the younger cacti pictured below. Notice that they are armless.
Another common cactus that I spotted during my hikes/bikes was the Teddy Bear Cholla (pronounced Choy-ya). Although this cactus (pictured below) may look soft & fuzzy like a teddy bear, it is actually quite dangerous as it's covered with sharp, yellowish spines. These spines serve as protection from rabbits and other herbivores that inhabit the desert. They also provide protection from intense sunshine and can serve as a cooling mechanism for the cactus.
After a long and enjoyable life in the desert, it's time for the cactus to decay and become a skeleton. Check out this ghost of a cactus that I found on the golf course. Scary stuff!
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