Mexican giant cardon cactus
© Ed Reardon/Alam
A colossal cactus. Meet the Mexican giant cardon cactus
In the world of cacti, they don’t get any bigger than the cardon. Also known as ‘elephant cactus’, this species can grow upwards of 60 feet and weigh in at over 20 tonnes. Despite the cardon’s massive size, it’s quite sensitive to frost, a trait which limits its range. It's said that when Spanish explorers arrived on the Baja California Peninsula in north-west Mexico, they encountered groves of this cactus covered in thistle. The Spanish word for thistle is 'cardo', hence the name. After dark, when the cardon flowers stretch open, the lesser long-nosed bat comes to feast. It's an important pollinator for many species of night-blooming cacti.
Related Images
Jazz saxophonist John Coltrane and band performing in 1961 in London, England
Telescopes and star trails at Paranal Observatory, Atacama Desert, Chile
Surfboards in a row
Wildflowers in Kettle River Recreation Area, British Columbia, Canada
Bing Today Images
Tower Bridge in London, England
Apr 27, 2025
South Padre Island, Texas
Apr 27, 2023
Midnight sun in Svalbard, Norway
Apr 27, 2022
South American tapir calf trots through the grass
Apr 27, 2020
The Angel of the North in Gateshead, Tyne and Wear
Apr 27, 2018
Crepuscular rays over the Saronic Gulf, Greece
Apr 27, 2017
Common kestrel hunting for rodents
Apr 27, 2016
