The Spine All Straw

Today was utterly miserable again weather wise so it had to be time for another indoor still life. My sister was recently given these cacti as a birthday present and the straw came with the packaging. I just liked their shapes and patterns against the straw (which I formed into a cloud shape in an effort to 'jazz up' the composition) and the black background.
You know what's coming next...yes, you've guessed it, some cacti facts for your 'enjoyment':
Spines are one of the defining characteristics of cacti. These sharp, needle-like structures arise from areoles (careful!), which are small raised areas on the cactus stem. Spines serve various purposes, including protection herbivores (or over enthusiastic photographers) reducing water loss through shading, and provide shade to the plants surface, reducing the risk of sunburn. Spines come in an array of sizes, shapes and colours, adding to the diversity of cacti species.