This Is Why Some Cactus Spines Are So Hard — and Painful — to Remove

[sargentodiaz]

​

I didn’t need a lengthy, probably tax-funded research study to know why. All one has to do is examine the darned things when you remove them.
​

Stephanie Crofts and Philip Anderson of the University of Illinois put the spines of six species of cactus to the test to see how the spines’ structure affects their function, including their ability to puncture animal skin. Their results, published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B, show that the microstructural traits that improve a spine’s ability to puncture flesh also increase the level of difficulty required to remove it.
​

​

Okay, so what does this conclude? That you should avoid the darned things so you don’t get pricked. Doncha love stuff like this?
​

More @ http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/d-brief/2018/11/20/cactus-spines-barbs-cholla-remove/
​

​

 

[jujube]

I did my own study once and concluded that one should not try to taste a cactus pear without fully peeling it first.

It wath a very concluthive sthudy conducted while twying to remove a thpine from my lip. I concluded that it hurth a lot and that I'm not going to do that again.

 

[Keesha]

I did my own study once and concluded that one should not try to taste a cactus pear without fully peeling it first.

It wath a very concluthive sthudy conducted while twying to remove a thpine from my lip. I concluded that it hurth a lot and that I'm not going to do that again.

:lofl: JuJube

 

[Butterfly]

I did my own study once and concluded that one should not try to taste a cactus pear without fully peeling it first.

It wath a very concluthive sthudy conducted while twying to remove a thpine from my lip. I concluded that it hurth a lot and that I'm not going to do that again.

I conducted a similar study when I was a little girl, by trying to pick cactus flowers and then somehow managing to fall into the cactus. It took my mother forever to get all those thpines out of me. It is one of those crystal clear childhood memories which will never fade. I also concluded that it hurt a lot and that I should never do it again, and I haven't.