Areoles

Taken from our Octupus cactus at El Presidio.  The areolas are clearly defined on this plant.

Ever wonder what those clusters of spines are called on a cactus?  Well wonder no more.....as the title suggests, they are called areoles.  Here is the definition...

 A small, specialized, cushionlike area on a cactus from which hairs, glochids, spines, branches, or flowers may arise. 

All I can say is....ouch!

The glochids story is coming.....a very painful lesson to be learned:(