Leafy Rose Cactus

I saw this Leafy Rose Cactus in the Conservatory at the Calgary Zoo. The leaves were dying and there were no flowers on it. The main things visible were these very long spines!

"These leafy climbing vines, shrubs and small, wide-spreading trees do not look like Cacti. They bear rose-like blossoms, and some even thrive in humid rainforests. But their thick sharp spines and blossoms grow from specialized knobs called areoles -- a positive Cactus identification. Some drop their leaves; others stay evergreen. Their thorny, woody branches make an effective barrier hedge. The sometimes fragrant flowers range from white to pale yellow, pink or red. Small berries form in summer and autumn." From www.sunnygardens.com/garden.