Cotton top cactus facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cotton top cactus |
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| Echinocactus polycephalus | |
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Cacteae
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E. polycephalus
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| Echinocactus polycephalus Engelm. & J.M. Bigelow
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Echinocactus polycephalus is a type of cactus often called the "Cotton top cactus". It grows in the very dry Mojave Desert and Sonoran Desert regions. You can find it in parts of Arizona, California, Nevada, and northern Sonora, Mexico. This tough plant lives in some of the hottest and driest places, like Death Valley National Park and the Mojave National Preserve in Southern California.
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What Does the Cotton Top Cactus Look Like?
The Cotton top cactus can grow in groups of up to 30 stems. Sometimes, it grows as a single stem. Each stem can be as tall as 0.6 meters (about 2 feet). The cactus has spines that are yellow or red. Its fruits are covered in a thick, woolly fuzz. This fuzzy look is why it is called the "Cotton top cactus."
Where Does the Cotton Top Cactus Grow?
This cactus is found in very dry places. These areas are called arid environments. It grows in the American Southwest. This includes famous hot spots like Death Valley National Park. It also lives in the Mojave National Preserve. These places are known for their extreme heat and very little rain.
Growing Cotton Top Cacti
It can be tricky to grow the Cotton top cactus outside of its natural home. Because of this, you do not often see it in cactus collections. It prefers its harsh desert environment.
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