{"id":38959,"date":"2024-05-30T14:49:17","date_gmt":"2024-05-30T12:49:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/2c86fcf9-7eb0-477d-ba07-a3e8138b23bb"},"modified":"2024-05-30T15:27:28","modified_gmt":"2024-05-30T13:27:28","slug":"whats-the-most-prickliest-plant-in-the-world-you-definitely-dont-want-to-get-too-close-to-these-thorny-devilish-species","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcwildlife\/rss_feed\/whats-the-most-prickliest-plant-in-the-world-you-definitely-dont-want-to-get-too-close-to-these-thorny-devilish-species\/","title":{"rendered":"What’s the most prickliest plant in the world? You definitely don’t want to get too close to these thorny, devilish species"},"content":{"rendered":"

Stuart Blackman takes a look at the contenders for the prickliest plant in the world <\/p>

By <\/p>

Published: Thursday, 30 May 2024 at 12:49 PM<\/p>

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Why are plants prickly?<\/h2>

As plants cannot get up and run away from predators, they have evolved alternative strategiesto avoid being eaten.<\/strong> <\/p>

As well as producing unpleasant repellents and toxins, they bear thorns and spikes to make them less attractive to herbivores.<\/p>

Prickles are not always just for defence, however. In the case of cacti, they help to trap and conserve water, which is useful in hot and dry environments.<\/p>

What’s the world’s most prickliest plant?<\/h2>

Defining the very prickliest of these resourceful plants is tricky, but there are a few contenders for prickliest plant in the world. <\/p>

One might be the cactus with the longest prickles, Emory\u2019s barrel cactus (Ferocactus emoryi)<\/em>, which can grow formidable spines up to 32cm long. Another cactus to avoid is the so-called jumping cholla (Cylindropuntia fulgida<\/em>), whose stems detach and stick to anything unlucky enough to brush past it, and whose barbed, hooked spikes are difficult and painful to remove.<\/p>