Flowers and Fruit of the Genus Mammillaria

joebowman.scienceblog.com – Mammillaria or the nipple cactus is one of the most popular of all cacti genera.  Named for the characteristically pronounced tubercles, mammillaria as a genus are globose to barrel shaped either solitary or clustering and branching to trailing.  Many species have latex sap and typically dense spination.  Geographic distribution varies from the northern … Read more

A Very Brief Overview of Cactus Spines

By Joe Bowman | joebowman.scienceblog.com In the dry and parched lands of the Americas the cactus in all it’s many forms thrive in the some of the most challenging environments.  In ecosystems where even the slightest advantage can mean the difference between survival and extinction each adaptation brings new opportunities for gaining advantages. The most … Read more