Young stems of lava cactus (Brachycereus nesioticus) Galapagos

Young stems of lava cactus (Brachycereus nesioticus) is endemic to Galapagos. It is the smallest of the Galapagos cacti. It is usually one of the first plants to colonise a fresh lava flow. It consists of number of short spiny stems up to 60 cm in height. Young stems are fresh yellow-green, turning grey to black with age. This cactus was growing on barren lava, Punta Espinosa, Fernandina Island, Galapagos, Ecuador, May 2007.