Ouch! Scratched by another thorn. But that’s okay, because thorns — and also spines, prickles, and sharp-pointed leaves — have a purpose in nature. Actually, they have several.
The prickles of my Fragrant Mimosa, native in Texas, snag me in my garden, but I don't mind. It's a nectar source for the butterflies.
First, what’s the difference between thorns, spines, and prickles?
- Spines are modified leaves, like what you’ll find on cactus.
- Thorns are modified branches or stems, like those found on citrus trees.
- Prickles are modified extensions of epidermal tissue. Roses have prickles, even though people typically call them thorns. The Fragrant Mimosa above also has prickles. Think of prickles as hairs. Sharp, pointy, painful hairs.
Or, you can just declare them all sharp pointy things. Since humans aren’t lucky enough to be covered in fur, all these plant adaptations hurt!
To the plants, these pointy adaptations might serve to protect them from being eaten. That’s not always the case, though. Cactus plants, for example, are a favorite browse of many livestock, deer, and javelina (people, too), despite the spines. Insects are happy to eat roses with or without their prickles.
Prickly Pear cactus has both long spines and tiny hair-like spines called glochids. It's the highly-irritating glochids to really watch out for. Some people have to resort to duct tape to get them out before welts appear.
Greenbrier's thorns help it climb up some 30 feet up trees and make thickets of dense, thorny shrubs. However, this makes it a great place for small animals seeking shelter.
But animals appreciate the needle-sharp protections. Smaller animals often hide in prickly shrubs — they have no problem navigating through sharp points. Some will even build their nests among the thorns, prickles, and spines of plants — a ready-made fortress to protect their babies from harm.
Cactus spines help protect nesting birds from harm.
Deer will hide their fawn under the pointy leaves of the Agarita, called the Babysitter Bush for good reason.
Agarita's leaves are sharp-pointed, helping protect small animals hiding within.
For wildlife, sharp pointy things on plants mean protection. They serve a purpose in nature, and they are part of making a safe habitat for wildlife. That’s why you’ll find them in my beautiful wildlife garden!
Lizards and sparrows seek cover among the pointy projections of shrubs and vines.
Meredith O’Reilly gardens for wildlife in Austin, Texas, and writes about her garden adventures at Great Stems
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About Meredith O'Reilly
As always, Meredith, great information. I know what you mean about trying to remove greenbrier. I have “greenbrier-free” zones in my yard generally the same areas as my “blackberry-free” zone and both are painful to remove. I have a pair of suede leather gloves which helps. I’ve been procrastinating this spring on that specific cleanup, but your article reminds me that I better get to it!
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I am entirely sympathetic–got both here too, and pulling it is a painful chore, even with goat-hide gloves!
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good information for me as i am not familiar with the differences among those protective plant structures. We have a mimosa which is very invasive, I didn’t know there is a fragrant species.
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I just had an encounter with greenbrier~ It was hiding and I didn’t see it! Ouch! I so understand rose gloves after that experience. Way back when I wrote about Osage Orange, I learned that Loggerhead strikes and other birds often impale insects and small critters on the thorns;and, where thorns are absent, they have learned to use barbed wire. Nature is amazing. gail
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