Brain cactus facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Brain cactus |
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| Stenocactus multicostatus | |
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Cacteae
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| Genus: |
Stenocactus
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S. multicostatus
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| Stenocactus multicostatus (Daul) A.Berger
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The brain cactus (scientific name: Stenocactus multicostatus) is a cool plant from the cactus family. It gets its common name because its many wavy ribs look a bit like a brain! This unique cactus grows naturally in the deserts of Mexico.
Many people like to grow the brain cactus in their gardens. It even won a special award called the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit. This award means it's a great plant for gardens.
You can find the brain cactus growing in the wild in several Mexican states. These include Chihuahua, Coahuila, Durango, Nuevo León, San Luis Potosí, Zacatecas, and Tamaulipas. Scientists are still learning more about its exact classification.
What Does It Look Like?
The brain cactus is a small plant, but it has many interesting features. It can grow up to about 2.5 inches (6 cm) tall. It usually spreads out to be 2.4 to 4 inches (6–10 cm) wide.
Its Unique Ribs
One of the most special things about this cactus is its ribs. It has almost 100 thin ribs that run all around its body. These ribs are what give it that "brain-like" look.
Spines and Flowers
Each rib has about six to nine spines. The spines at the top are longer, reaching 1.6 to 3.2 inches (4–8 cm). The spines lower down are shorter, only about 0.2 to 0.6 inches (5–15 mm) long.
When it blooms, the brain cactus produces beautiful flowers. These flowers can be white or purple. They are usually 0.8 to 2 inches (2–5 cm) across and have many stamens inside.
See also
In Spanish: Stenocactus multicostatus para niños
