ORGAN PIPE CACTUS (Stenocereus thurberi)
The organ pipe cactus produces columns of flower buds near the tops of the stems. The flowers open at night, when they are visited by nectar-seeking long-nosed bats, which serve as pollinators. The flowers then close in the early morning. This image shows one open flower (with a flower bud on the opposite side of the stem) and details of the spines arising from the closely spaced areoles along the ribs of the stem. Go to
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