EPOD - a service of USRA

The Earth Science Picture of the Day (EPOD) highlights the diverse processes and phenomena which shape our planet and our lives. EPOD will collect and archive photos, imagery, graphics, and artwork with short explanatory
captions and links exemplifying features within the Earth system. The
community is invited to contribute digital imagery, short captions and
relevant links.


Pincushion Cactus

January 31, 2023

Menashe_pincushionepod_Picture1

Menashe_pincushionepod_Picture2

Photographer: Menashe Davidson

Summary Author: Menashe Davidson

The pincushion cactus or Mammillaria is a genus in the
Cactaceae family that’s native to the U.S. and Mexico as well as to
mid-latitude regions of South America. This cactus is noted for its
small size (about 6 inches or 15 cm tall), its rounded or cylindrical
shape, its tubercles (rounded projections) arranged in a spiral pattern
and its funnel-shaped flowers (about 1 inch or 25 mm in diameter) that
form a halo around the top.

I grow this popular cactus in my home garden in Rishon LeZion, Israel.
They’re tough plants that tolerate a variety of conditions. What
attracted me most is the crown-like formation of the funnel-shaped
flowers surrounding the top of the plant (top photo). Mammillaria
flowers grow out of the axils between succulent nipple-shaped
tubercles. The axils are covered with wooly hairs or bristles,
whereas the areoles are often covered with a wool or felt-like
substance. Their bloom period, during the summertime, is relatively
short – a few weeks, and these cacti hold their flowers for only about
one week (bottom photo). Note that when viewing the pincushion cacti
from above, a very organized and orderly appearance is observed.
Photos taken on November 18, 2022.


Rishon LeZion, Israel Coordinates: 31.9730, 34.7925


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Plant Links

* Discover Life
* Tree Encyclopedia
* What are Phytoplankton?
* Encyclopedia of Life - What is a Plant?
* USDA Plants Database
* University of Texas Native Plant Database
* Plants in Motion
* What Tree is It?

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