| Class: | Vegimal |
| Hab: | Arid wastes |
| Fre: | Somewhat rare |
| Num: | 1-20; depends on local moisture |
| Lair: | Sessile; 100% |
| Size: | 10 to 50' wide, to 35' tall |
| Move: | Sessile; none |
| Def: | Tree-tough hide, tough flesh, great mass, no vital organs |
| Att: | Entire tree crown crashes down, impaling with thorns |
| Int: | None or minimal - usually; some = Black Willow (which SEE) |
| Spec: | Some cage and trap prisoners |
| Posns: | Incidental; remains of previous victims |
The collapsing cactus are just one of the many groups of tree cactus. Most tree cacti grow thick-barked trunks to hold their branches and fleshy pads high aloft, out of reach of giant tortoises and other vicious vegetarians.
Unlike most cactus trees, the collapsing cactus will not tolerate trespassers below it. When its sensitive roots feel that they are being walked on, the wide-spread crown collapses, the weight of the twitching limbs - hundred or thousands of pounds each - ramming the sword-like spines into the trespassers.
Caging varieties have been bred in which the crown forms a sort of skeletal cagework around the trespassers, holding them to starve. This attracts further prey.
| Vladpup Home RPG Home Bestiary Index Cacti Sub-Index | Last update Apr 4, 2006 |