Desert Art and Architecture 2
I photographed this cactus while walking through a desert landscape near Tucson, Arizona. It is a Barrel Cactus. As with the Prickly Pear Cactus in the adjoining image, I consider it an example of both desert art and archtecture in nature, the latter because its design helps it survive in a hot and arid environment.
One of the most notable characteristics of Barrel Cacti is their rounded top or barrel-shaped body, which gives them their common name. There are many varieties of Barrel Cacti. The Fishhook Barrel Cactus doesn't get much bigger than a baseball, while the Golden Barrel Cactus can be three feet in diameter and weigh well over 100 lbs.
A prominent feature of all Barrel Cacti is ribs that run vertically along their body, giving them a ribbed appearance. These ribs allow the cactus to expand and store water during periods of rainfall, enabling them to survive in dry and arid conditions.
Another striking feature of barrel cacti is their spines. These cacti are covered in a dense array of sharp spines that serve multiple purposes. The spines help protect the cactus from animals, provide shade to the cactus's body, and reduce water loss by creating a barrier against excessive evaporation.
When the spring and summer seasons roll around, Barrel Cacti put on a magnificent show with their vibrant and eye-catching flowers. These flowering cactus plants come in a range of stunning colors, such as yellow, orange, red, and pink. The barrel cactus can live to be over 100 years old. Barrel cactus buds typically start to bloom in April with a bright yellow or orange flower.
Desert Art and Architecture 2
I photographed this cactus while walking through a desert landscape near Tucson, Arizona. It is a Barrel Cactus. As with the Prickly Pear Cactus in the adjoining image, I consider it an example of both desert art and archtecture in nature, the latter because its design helps it survive in a hot and arid environment.
One of the most notable characteristics of Barrel Cacti is their rounded top or barrel-shaped body, which gives them their common name. There are many varieties of Barrel Cacti. The Fishhook Barrel Cactus doesn't get much bigger than a baseball, while the Golden Barrel Cactus can be three feet in diameter and weigh well over 100 lbs.
A prominent feature of all Barrel Cacti is ribs that run vertically along their body, giving them a ribbed appearance. These ribs allow the cactus to expand and store water during periods of rainfall, enabling them to survive in dry and arid conditions.
Another striking feature of barrel cacti is their spines. These cacti are covered in a dense array of sharp spines that serve multiple purposes. The spines help protect the cactus from animals, provide shade to the cactus's body, and reduce water loss by creating a barrier against excessive evaporation.
When the spring and summer seasons roll around, Barrel Cacti put on a magnificent show with their vibrant and eye-catching flowers. These flowering cactus plants come in a range of stunning colors, such as yellow, orange, red, and pink. The barrel cactus can live to be over 100 years old. Barrel cactus buds typically start to bloom in April with a bright yellow or orange flower.