http://www.yorkarchaeology.co.uk/resources/pubs_archive.htm
I bookmarked the page, and now I'm going to have to go buy a ream of paper because I want this one in tangible form, for when the download disappears again.
But just so this post isn't entirely full of text, here's a picture I took on my hike in the White Tanks this evening:
That is a barrel cactus in the foreground, a teddy bear cholla in the midground, and a saguaro in the background. Cactus are weird! Beautifully sculptural...but weird.
I just moved to AZ a cpl years back :) arent the cholla the ones they call jumping cactus? My kids got so scared when they heard that there were jumping cacti!
ReplyDeleteFound your blog on the Fun and Friends Promotion Team @Etsy :)
Yup, those are the ones. The needles are very loosely attached, so if you brush against them you're likely to get barbs in the skin that may need pliers to get back out. They don't actually jump, but pads will easily break off and velcro themselves to anything that happens to touch it. That is how they propagate, since each little ball of spines can then drop off (eventually) and root to create a new cactus. They were the inspiration for the needle throwing cactus in the Xanth books by Piers Anthony.
ReplyDeleteThe skeletons of the cholla are beautiful, and can be used in crafting. But don't go hunting cholla skeleton in sandals. Especially without pliers on hand. Just ask my husband about that one.
Thanks for stopping by!