A world full of cactus, a journey of Arizona and Mexico that Japanese can not imagine

Because it appears in the lyrics of J-POP, "Cactus flower" had a pretty image for a long time ... until we see the primeval cactus in the Arizona state in southern USA. The arms that stretched out from a heavy innermost are the muscles of muscles, Morimori. They are silent guys, but it seems to be crushed by intimidation. But I did not know that the scenery spreading cactus is so fun. The variety is abundant enough that you can not understand the translation. Arizona and the cactus in Mexico are loved by everyone and can be seen in every place. I tried it at the market because it was sold as edible. I introduce the world full of familiar thin cactus to Japanese people.

Hello,Takuya Sudo @ circle around the world bicycle @ Charridermanis. Until then I had traveled that way, but I did not imagine the scenery that the cactus spread all over. The world is too wide.

Cactus living in the wilderness
Things to do in Grand CanyonI will aim for Phoenix, the capital of Arizona state. At the Grand Canyon, the altitude exceeded the altitude of 2000 m, but as the south got down, the altitude was lowered, the forest view full of greenery dried, the cactus nyoki nioki appeared. Further further south from Phoenix and the border of Mexico is close "Organ Pipe Cactus National MonumentIt is full of cacti to eliminate words. Northern Mexico was full of cactus.

The way side looks like this.


Big breed.


A kind of cactus not branching.


I was stretching my height higher than the utility pole.


The area is dry.


Cactus of 'Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument'.


Cactar's forest.


There are many cacti across the road.


One, one is really big.


When I entered Mexico from the border Sonoita (Sonoita), there were only cactus for a while.


A road that extends straight. In this section, there are only 100 cranes in the city, no crowds, no cactus.


In such a way the cactus was quiet on the side of the road.


Cacti are growing up even on steep rocks.


A cactus with flowers.


Is not it pretty that the flowers that you put on discreetly in the form of a tingle? It seems to say, 'Because it is not blooming for you'.


Cobb at the top of the cactus asked, "I do not know but flowers will bloom."


Three cactuses that are doing similar acts of Titanic's movies.


Was it also an incomprehensible thing, the branching is fierce.


◆ Type
I saw cactus every day for southern Arizona and northern Mexico. Even if I do not know the type, I understand the difference. I tried collecting various cacti in this way, but I do not know what is going on as I write an article and check the internet. "Is this a cactus?" I would like to know that a wide variety of cacti are growing naturally ... ....

01: Pear cactus. This type of cactus is also edible.


02: There are thorns in the stem node and it is made as Punipni. The figure is like a tree.


03: A kind that stretches at one stem node anywhere without branching.


It looks like 04: 03 but it was like I did not stretch my height. This is the one that the flowers were blooming.


05: Small cactus is dense.


06: Cactuses that extend their arms, cactus seen in design etc. were many in this form.


07: I think that it is a member of the Ochiai cactus, but the shape of the stem node has changed.


08: This is unusual cactus, it is huge and does not branch on the top.


It looks like 09: 05, but it is more dense and dense. The shape of the spine is also different.


10: Stick-shaped cactus, it is fun to stretch stem nodes from strange places.


11: The green part has thorns as Pnipni, but the brown part is hard like a tree branch. Is this also a cactus group?


12: Small stem nodes gathered to make one cactus.


13: I think that it is not a cactus, but a plant that has only branches and spines.


14: This is not a cactus, but a green stem tree painted with paint. It looks like a tree called Palo Verde.


◆ In people's life
Cacti was not only in nature but also in people's lives. In America there are cacti in Tacos' fast food design. Cacti is also the leading role of the gardening style around here. It is also edible so you can eat it.

Cactus blended into the city.


I put up a tent next to the cactus.


To the shop of the gas station.


The mark of the youth hostel is American jokes and to the cactus.


Also the outlet of the youth hostel.


It is becoming an object in town.


Drinking water vending machines are also used for design.


The street tree is a cactus when entering Mexico.


The figure of a cactus also appears at a gas station in Mexico.


Such a wonderful cactus is also at the entrance ... ....


It is also sold as street plants on the street.


It was also placed as a houseplant in the communal kitchen of the hostel.


Cactus is on sale as a food for the market as well. It seems to be a kind of pear cactus.


Cactus salad with cutting stem nodes. It is not bad, although it is made as a noumeume as a seaweed. It is a salad made by an aunt nearby, but how to use vegetables and seasoning is the best.


Next, I also ate fruits.


The resilient part of the surroundings is like a cucumber texture, the red part of the center is sharp but it is hard to eat with many seeds. It was a sour taste with a slight sweet taste. I tried it for the time being, but there may be how to choose delicious fruits and cooking methods.


◆ Dragon fruit
I did not think deeply until I wrote this article, but in fact I had worked in cactus fields around Australia.Dragon fruitIt is said to be a plant of the cactus family. I thought that it was a funny plant and a strange plant, but I did not think that it was a cactus because thorns were not noticeable.

Field of dragon fruit.


A stem node shaped like a cone.


Large and beautiful white flowers were blooming.


I will eat this red fruit.


◆ Tequila
Although it is not a cactus,Agave (Longuan orchid)There was also a field of. Plants in Mexico are stiff and have spines and something strong. AgavetequilaIt is a raw material for Mexico, and cultivation is also done in Mexico. Cultivation of agave was flourishing around the town of Tequila which is together with the name of sake.

Agave fields.


I am stretching a rigid sharp leaf so as to spread from the center.


Instead of leaves, the part hitting the central stem is the raw material of tequila.


Tequila manufacturing factory.


◆ Cactus in Japan
Actually, Japanese parents also had cactus and they grew up as a squirt during the journey.

17th January 2005.


November 14, 2005.


June 1, 2008.


April 02, 2009.


March 6, 2010.


June 10, 2012.


I studied about cactus to write this article, but I have not seen the cactus shaped like a ball yet. It seems that there are many cacti that beautiful flowers bloom. I will continue running with Central America and South America, so I will report somewhere if I find something again. I have never thought that the vegetation is different so far, I am looking forward to the future.

(Sentence / picture: Takuya SAITO @ Charriderman
Cycling around the world for a bicyclehttp://shuutak.com)