There are many cactus lovers out there, but most are scared or hesitant to handle them too often because of thorns. So, are cactus spines poisonous? Are cactus spines dangerous? In this post, you will find out about types of cactus spines, whether cacti spines are poisonous or dangerous and more.
No, cactus spines are not poisonous. However, some cactus spines can be dangerous (for example Cholla or hairlike spines), if they get deep into tissues, and might cause bruising, bleeding and even dying tissues.
What are cactus spines?
Cactus spines are needle-like modified leaves. Due to their needle-like adaptation, cactus can lose less water in hot and harsh weather conditions. They also provide some shade and offer a great protection from animals that might want to eat them.
Some cacti have spines that provide them with camouflage, which further helps to protect them from animals that might want to eat them. Cactus spines reflect light, so that less light reaches the plant’s stem (reducing water loss).
What types of cactus spines are there?
There are few types of cactus spines that you might see on different cactus plants. Some types of spines might be harder to remove and cause more pain when you get prickled. Cactus spine types are:
- Very thin, hairlike spines (such as in genus of Cephalocereus)
- Hooked spines (such as in Mammillaria gracilis)
- Flattened spines (such as in Sclerocactus papyracanthus)
- Glochids (such as in Opuntia rufida)
- Curved spines (most cacti)
Glochids are one of the most pain inflicting cactus spine types. That’s because glochids break easily in the skin and are very thin. This makes very hard to remove them from the skin.
This also relates to barbed or cholla spines. They perforate skin and tissues very easily, and cause lots of pain. These are cacti in the subfamily of Opuntioideae, which contain Chollas, or Cylindropuntia.
Cholla cacti are called jumping chollas, because they easily stick to fur, skin and clothing. They need to be removed from skin very carefully because they will stick to fingers if removed by hand.
What to do if you get pricked by a cactus?
When you get prickled by a cactus, it will definitely hurt. Even after cactus spines are extracted from skin, you will feel pain in that area. That’s because spines damage the tissue at the prickling spot and cause little cuts.
Some spines, especially thin or barbed ones, are harder to remove and cause more pain. But if you get prickled by a cactus, don’t panic. Usually removing spines if all you have to do. The are might also hurt for up to few days, but pain will pass.
If you get prickled, do the following:
- Run some warm water on the prickled area to soften the spikes.
- To remove spines, use tweezers or tape. Sticky tape often helps remove small spines. Tweezers also allow good precision.
- Use a flashlight or a magnifying glass to see and remove spines.
- Avoid rubbing the area, or you might push the spines further into the skin.
- After you have taken spines out, touch the area. If you feel pain when touching it, check for more spines.
Don’t use a knife to remove spines. This might cut the spine in half, leaving the other bit in the skin. Unfortunately, this might lead to an infection and medical attention might be required. Be careful when removing spines at home.
Thank you for reading this post on whether cactus spines are poisonous or dangerous. If you would like to learn more about cacti and their care, please check out this resource page.