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Does anyone know what kind of cactus this is, and more importantly, why it seems to have two different types of segments growing on the same plant? I found it growing alongside the Golden Orb Trail in Long Key State Park, southern Florida.

Thanks!

I don't really know what this cactus might be. It appears to be the result of grafting, but it is weird that it is going out in a park! It's an interesting picture to say the least.

Very curious indeed. A confused Harrisia?

TexasPricklyPiglet wrote:It appears to be the result of grafting, but it is weird that it is going out in a park!

My first thought when I saw it was some kind of natural graft; can something like that happen?! It was definitely bizarre.

tumamoc wrote:Very curious indeed. A confused Harrisia?

Possibly; I know Harrisia grows in the Keys. Maybe someone more familiar with the area will have seen this before. I would love to check on this cactus again and see what it looks like now (the photo was taken in February), but I live 1200 miles away.

I've seen other examples of cacti where new growth looks different from older growth, but I don't see any way the top part could turn into anything that looks like the bottom part. Maybe it can?!

No grafting involved I don't think. As bizarre as it looks, I think it must be the transition from juvenile growth form to adult growth form. I can't say what species it is, but probably a Harrisia of some kind.