Cactus Spike

Spike (character)

Spike may refer to any of the following fictional characters:

Cactus

A cactus is a member of the plant family Cactaceae, a family of the order Caryophyllales comprising about 131 genera with some 1,866 known species. The word cactus derives, through Latin, from the Ancient Greek word κάκτος (káktos), a name originally used by Theophrastus for a spiny plant whose identity is now not certain. Cacti occur in a wide range of shapes and sizes. They are native to the Americas, ranging from Patagonia in the south to parts of western Canada in the north, with the exception of Rhipsalis baccifera, which is also found in Africa and Sri Lanka. Cacti are adapted to live in very dry environments, including the Atacama Desert, one of the driest places on Earth. Because of this, cacti show many adaptations to conserve water. For example, almost all cacti are succulents, meaning they have thickened, fleshy organs adapted to store water. Unlike many other succulents, the stem is the only part of most cacti where water storage takes place. Most species of cacti have lost true leaves, retaining only spines, which are highly modified leaves. As well as defending against herbivores, spines help prevent water loss by reducing air flow close to the cactus and providing some shade. In the absence of true leaves, cacti's enlarged stems carry out photosynthesis.

cactus

Noun

1. Any member of the family Cactaceae, a family of flowering New World succulent plants suited to a hot, semi-desert climate.
2. Any succulent plant with a thick fleshy stem bearing spines but no leaves, such as euphorbs.

Adjective

1. Non-functional, broken, exhausted, dead.

spike

Noun

1. A sort of very large nail.
2. A piece of pointed metal etc. set with points upward or outward.

Verb

1. To fasten with spikes, or long, large nails.
2. To set or furnish with spikes.