Why is a cactus so prickly?

Have you ever seen a cactus in a pot? Look closely at its green body. Tiny sharp points stick out all over it.

Those points make a cactus very prickly. So why is a cactus so prickly? Let's find out together.

Many cactuses grow wild in a desert. A desert is a hot, sandy place where rain hardly ever falls. The ground stays dry for a long, long time. So every drop of water matters there.

When rain comes, the cactus drinks it up fast. It keeps the water inside its thick, fat stem. That way it has water on the dry days, like a little water bottle.

Under its green skin, a cactus stem is soft and juicy, a bit like a cucumber. If you could peek inside, it would look wet and pale green.

Desert animals get thirsty too. Mice and rabbits would love a juicy bite of cactus. One bite would give them a cool drink of water.

That is why a cactus has spines, which are hard, sharp needles. The spines cover the cactus from top to bottom, so no spot is soft to bite. What do you think happens when a thirsty rabbit comes close?

The rabbit sniffs the cactus. Ouch! A spine pokes its nose. The rabbit hops away to find something else, and the cactus keeps its water.

Later, a hungry mouse comes by. It sees the sharp spines and creeps right past. All through the long, dry days, the spines keep the cactus safe.

Let's remember one word: spines. A cactus keeps water inside, and its spines stop thirsty animals from drinking it.

Now you know why a cactus is so prickly. Sleep well, and say a quiet hello to the next cactus you see.