Fishhook Cactus - Mammillaria dioica

Cacti Barrel Cactus Beavertail Cholla Claret Cup Cactus Hedgehog Cactus Ocotillo Organ Pipe Cactus Pincushion Cactus Prickly Pear Cactus Saguaro Cactus Totem Pole Cactus Flowers

Fishhook cactus get their name from the shape of their spines.

They are also commonly known as pincusion cactus because they grow close to the ground, in clumps that resemble pincushions.

The fishhook cactus pictured, Mammillaria dioica, is commonly called a strawberry cactus. The flowers suggest it could also be called a candy cane cactus.

Their habitat is desert and hillsides in California and Arizona, and they bloom in the early spring.

© 2008 Patricia A. Michaels.