Turks Head Cactus Pods

Half eaten, rosy pink seed pod from the Turks Head cactus.

Many of the Turks Head Cacti here at Harbour Club Villas are flowering and throwing off seed pods like crazy right now. They are providing a feast for our local population of anoles and curly tailed lizards. I haven’t managed to snap a photo of them actually eating one but I keep trying.

This fairly young cactus does not have a pronounced cap as yet but it is producing so many seed pods.

 

An anole lizard has no problem with the cactus spines as he makes for the seed pods.

 

The seed pods are shaped more like a fushia coloured pepper elongated at the one end where it grows in the white part of the cap.

 

Close up of the indentation in the cap left by the seed pod with a curly tailed lizard.

No seed pod but still a fair sized Curly Tailed Lizard and we do have some pretty large ones at the villas.

The seed pods of the Turks Head Cactus provides food for many birds and lizards who injest, fertilize, eliminate the tiny black seed to propagate more cacti.

 

 

Marta

 

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

 

Turks Head Cactus

Turks Head Cactus has a seed pod that is just like a mini rosy red apple.

Turks Head Cactus has a seed pod that is just like a mini rosy red apple.

 The recent rains have revived all the plants, bushes and everything is blooming like crazy including my Turks Head cacti. 

This one is flowering and fruiting at the same time.

This one is flowering and fruiting at the same time.

A close up of the pretty delicate looking flower of the Turks Head Cactus

A close up of the pretty delicate looking flower of the Turks Head Cactus

The cap of the Turks Head cactus with budding flowers just starting to pop up.

The cap of the Turks Head cactus with budding flowers just starting to pop up.

Looks like one of the numerous lizards at Harbour Club has eated part of the seed pod.

Looks like one of the numerous lizards at Harbour Club has eated part of the seed pod.

This particular young Turks Head is producing flowers and seed pods like crazy.

This particular young Turks Head is producing flowers and seed pods like crazy.

This is my mature Turks Head cactus....I'm thinking it has to be at least 25 years old.

This is my mature Turks Head cactus....I'm thinking it has to be at least 25 years old.

I love these cacti……….hope you enjoy the selection of photos.

 

 

Marta

 

 

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Turks Head Cactus

My small Turks Head Cactus is blooking and throwing off seed pods like crazy!

My small Turks Head Cactus is blooming and throwing off seed pods like crazy!

I can’t believe all the seed pods on my Turks Head Cactus……all shaped like peppers but in a rosy pink colour. This little Anole lizard was looking to eat a few. I believe they do eat them along with the birds. Actually, I ate one and they are quite tasty.

 

Marta

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Turk’s Head Cactus

This Turk's Head Cactus with both flowers and pink fruit grows wild in the Turks and Caicos Islands.

This Turk's Head Cactus with both flowers and pink fruit grows wild in the Turks and Caicos Islands.

The Turk’s Head Cactus is one of the national emblems of the Turks and Caicos Islands where it loves the dry climate and thrives in exposed areas. It is named after the distinctive reddish cap that sits on top of the green cactus and looks like a Turkish fez (cap).

Turk's Head Cactus blooms throughout the year in the Turks and Caicos Islands

Turk's Head Cactus blooms throughout the year in the Turks and Caicos Islands

The Turk’s Head Cactus produces small spikey looking pink flowers and as they die, they form the fruit which grows inside the white spongey cap. The rosey pink fruit contains the seeds and are much loved by our lizards and birds, iguanas too.  The locals also will eat them as they apparently are sweet and juicy. I haven’t tasted one yet but will do so one of these days.

Turk's Head Cactus with pretty pink flowers
Turk’s Head Cactus with pretty pink flowers

I’ve had some success in growing Turk’s Head Cactus and have lots started

at Harbour Club Villas. They take forever to grow though!!!!
Cheers,
Marta