May 30th, 2009

I don’t really know what’s up with me and the scientific names.  I just sort of think they’re cool, I guess. Anyway, melocactus intortus is the scientific name for a species on the island called Turks Head Cactus or Turks Cap Cactus. They are found all over the island and are especially plentiful around areas like the caves. One thing that I figured out in about five second with them, though, is that they have sharp, needlelike spines. Very sharp. I accidentally knocked one with the sid of my sneaker once, and came out of it with about ten fearsome little spines lodged in the side of my sneaker. I hobbled around for a couple of minutes trying to get them out and the same time silently resolving to be much more careful in the future. Later, I also discovered one in my shirt back when I leaned back into the maintenance cart seat. Ouch. Additionally, they flower and produce small, edible fuscia-colored berries that taste almost like kiwi. They are picked from the top, reddish part of the cactus and on the right I can be seen trying to pick one. Well, I have to go to close up the ELC now, so hope that I don’t step on one on my way there!

Filed under: Shelley |