Danger! Danger! When plants attack...

Some time ago there was a news item worthy of late-night talk show status when a party in a domestic dispute heaved a heavily armed cactus at the other party causing grievous bodily (and no doubt psychological) injury. The thought of “plant-as-weapon” struck many as amusing—particularly those who aren’t familiar with the various mechanical and chemical means plants have evolved to defend themselves with.

Plants can be dangerous, and even those of us who live closely with them sometimes forget. I’ve been bringing tender things into heated spaces for the past week or so including Pereskia aculeata ‘Godseffiana’ which summered luxuriantly outside and now has leafy vines more than four feet long. Perched among the lights with its vines outstretched it is a sight, its wonderful multicolored leaves resplendent in gold, green and pink (The color will fade a bit indoors but summers in the sun bring it back).

Most cacti are content to play their spines close to their vests and won’t nail you unless your hands are getting grabby. Pereskia, also a cactus (and one of the few with true leaves) isn’t as limited. Hidden at the base of each leaf, all down the stems, are paired, cat-claw spines—doubly deadly because they are hidden and on wavy vines freed from the earthly prison of more familiar cacti.

In the case of Pereskia, these likely aid in supporting the plant as it clambers through other vegetation in its native tropics. But they will also grab and rip at unsuspecting passers-by.

This morning while watering, I turned and took a stem full across the face, opening a nice gash on the upper lid of one eye and nearly spilling my vitreous humor—which wouldn’t have been funny at all. This necessitated a quick run to the bathroom to clean up; and then a session of vine tucking to push them out of traffic lanes.

The moral of this story: remember what you’re dealing with, AND that proper plant placement inside is just as important as in the garden.

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Copyright  2006- 2007 by Carlo A. Balistrieri.
All rights reserved.