Spiny Desert Plants – Today’s NYT Mini Crossword

The Plants

Crossword puzzles are a favored pastime, providing a sense of achievement, learning, relaxation, and cognitive improvement. Additionally, constructors of these puzzles use wordplay techniques such as puns, homophones, and anagrams to make solving more enjoyable and challenging. The New York Times Mini Crossword uses such clues – today, the NYT Mini Crossword Clue for July 31, 2023, is Spiny desert plants.

The Flowers

Cacti are usually spineless plants, but some species like Solanum pyracanthos, have sharp thorns that draw blood at any touch. Reminiscent of an evil hybrid between a cactus and an ordinary backyard tomato, its orange-yellow thorns protrude proudly along branches and grow directly from leaves in an eye-catching display of wickedness.

Fouquieria splendens is often misidentified as a cactus; it’s a semi-succulent plant with upright canes. Also referred to as an ocotillo, candlewood, coachwhip desert coral Jacob cactus vine cactus, this blooms during springtime to attract pollinators such as hummingbirds while producing fruit in summer – eventually reaching 15 to 40 feet tall with proper pruning! Additionally, its fruit can be consumed directly. It makes an attractive container plant!