Most cactus spines are fairly straight, but the fishhook barrel
![](https://www.americansouthwest.net/plants/photographs1118/cristate-organ-pipe4.jpg)
Cacti of West and Southwest USA
Why do cacti have spines and not spikes? - Quora
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Most cactus spines are fairly straight, but the fishhook barrel cactus has spines curved into a fishhook shape (I don't mean barbs). Are there any good ideas why that shape evolved?
![](https://img.atlasobscura.com/-eXdXtdGk9aZSm0lJ53NpvRsk7fTRLG2rSPWtc96b-o/rt:fill/w:1200/el:1/q:81/sm:1/scp:1/ar:1/aHR0cHM6Ly9hdGxh/cy1kZXYuczMuYW1h/em9uYXdzLmNvbS91/cGxvYWRzL2Fzc2V0/cy8yMzNhODMyMS04/ZGUwLTQ2MDQtODA2/ZC1mNDEyYjU2ZDI5/ZDk2ZDRmMzFhZjdi/MjNkNzhmYWRfRmlz/aG9va19CYXJyZWxf/RmVyb2NhY3R1c193/aXNsaXplbmkuanBn.jpg)
How a Candy Craze Almost Wiped Out the Barrel Cactus - Gastro Obscura
![](https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/25338577/large.jpeg)
fishhook barrel cactus (Cactus of Metro Phoenix (April 2021 EcoQuest Guide)) · iNaturalist
Cactus spines are modified leaves. What is their purpose? - Quora
When they were doing cactus rescues, they found a few yellow spines and yellow flowered plants. The first four pictures are of a mature plant in my
![](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/2G4AAOSwzA9gMcj-/s-l1200.jpg)
Ferocactus wislizeni Fishhook Barrel Cactus YELLOW SPINES/FLOWERS! 3.25 Pot
Why has this cactus plant got curly spines? Is there any clue as to what it is called? - Quora
Cactus spines are modified leaves. What is their purpose? - Quora
![](https://tpwmagazine.com/archive/2022/jan/scout6_flora/img/dreamstime_xl_29584706.jpg)
Barbed Barrel, January, February 2022
![](https://www.phgmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/PHG0722redbarrel03.jpg)
The Fish Hook Barrel Cactus is a True Sonoran Desert Beauty - Phoenix Home & Garden
Why do cacti have spines and not spikes? - Quora