What Cactus are You?

NPS Photo

Take this quiz to learn a bit about the diverse cacti of the southwest and find out which you are most like! Don't forget to record how many of each letter you choose.

1. How tall are you?

   1. Under 5 feet

   2. 5 to 9 feet

   3. 15 to 20 feet

   4. 40 to 60 feet

2. How would you describe your body?

   1. Short and pear-shaped

   2. Hairy looking

   3. Tall and wide

   4. Tall and striking

3. What type of friend are you?

   1. You're the friend who always brings the food

   2. You latch onto people and don't let go

   3. You're always branching out

   4. You like having friends stay over

4. What's your nickname?

   1. Tuna

   2. Teddy Bear

   3. I don't really have a nickname

   4. Big guy

5. How old are you

   1. 20 years old

   2. 30 years old

   3. 150 years old

   4. A couple centuries old

6. What kind of wether do you like?

   1. I'm not picky about Temperature. Just don't give me too much water!

   2. I like being warm and dry, but a slight chill won't kill me

   3. I like hot dry places and never go too far north

   4. I love heat and sun! I avoid shade by growing on sunny, south facing slopes

7. When do you want to have kids?

   1. After two or three years

   2. Never (although I wouldn't mind a clone of myself)

   3. 35 years old

   4. I don't know! sometime between 30 and 60

8. What's your biggest pet peeve?

   1. When people eat all my food

   2. When a dog tries to play with me. It will regret that!

   3. When people confuse me with another cactus!

   4. Everyone mispronounces my name

 

Prickly Pear Cactus

NPS photo

Mostly As: Engelmann Prickly Pear Cactus (Opuntia engelmannii)

You’re a prickly pear cactus! Like the prickly pear, you have a variety of personalities and moods. Prickly pears have at least four varieties at Tonto National Monument that can hybridize with each other. The color of their pear-shaped pads can vary from green to purple. They are a hardy species and can be found in diverse environments from the Baja peninsula to southern Canada. Lots of animals and insects eat the prickly pears tasty fruit and juicy pads.

 

Teddy Bear Cholla

NPS photo

Mostly Bs: Teddy Bear Cholla (Cylindropuntia bigelovii)

You are a Teddy Bear Cholla! These cacti can be found throughout most of the Mojave and Sonoran deserts. They produce flowers and fruit with seeds, but these are typically sterile. Instead, teddy bear chollas reproduce asexually. Their jointed arms will break off when blown by wind or jostled by a passing animal. The broken branch will then root into the soil and grow into a new plant, genetically identical to its parent. Most branches will stay close to the parent and cholla can quickly take over a hillside. Other branches might attach to animals and travel long distances before being released. Tiny barbs of the chollas spine help them grab onto anything that brushes it, whether it’s an animal or a pair of jeans.

 

Organ Pipe Cactus

NPS Volunteer

Mostly Cs: Organ Pipe Cactus (Stenocereus thurberi)

You’re an Organ Pipe Cactus! Though not as famous as the Saguaro you still tower over your surroundings. You’re strong with a solid wood core. You hate the cold and can only survive in a small southern band in the US and into Mexico. Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument is dedicated to spreading knowledge about this cactus and protecting its habitat.

 

Saguaro Cactus

NPS photo

Mostly Ds: Saguaro (Carnegiea gigantea)

You’re a Saguaro! You are iconic. People all over the world recognize you as a symbol of the southwest. You tower over the other plants around you, but you worked hard for a long time to achieve your height. You have a strong backbone that people can use for support. You also provide a safe place for a variety of birds and critters to call home.