Visitors to official buildings in the German town of Plettenberg can expect to see a variety of warm room furnishings, with one notable exception: cactus. Thorny plants were banned.

By the way Speaking to Sky News, Plettenberg mayor Ulrich Schulte issued a citywide order requiring cacti to be removed from all government, school and kindergarten facilities following a mishap involving a man who suffered a cactus-related injury.

“Due to the current situation, all public and private cacti (cactiaceae) must be immediately removed from city halls,” Schulte wrote, the latter likely referring to the cacti that adorn desks and other work areas. “While this order may seem adventurous, excessive, unnecessary or ridiculous to some employees, it is a serious matter for the protection of the health of all employees and especially of children in schools and nurseries.” has background.”

The unidentified victim was said to have suffered an arm injury; A city official speculated that the situation could be more serious if a child ran afoul of the cactus in question.

Is Mayor Schulte acting rashly? Not exactly. Most (but not all) cacti non-toxic Being harpooned by the cactus’ spine can still cause problems, as they do not act as a poison delivery system for humans and animals.

Spines depending on the species involved prove It is difficult to remove thanks to secondary spines along the length. Opuntia littoralisor the coastal prickly pear cactus, native to Southern California, has 1.5-inch needles and smaller glochids; both have “teeth” that can make them difficult to remove.

Because cactus (indoor or outdoor) can attract debris and dirt, puncturing one of the cacti can also lead to a secondary bacterial infection that requires medical attention. If you get stuck, it’s best to remove the spike as quickly as possible with tweezers. If any spikes are left behind, the problem may go away, but you should still seek treatment to prevent complications.

Cacti are, of course, blameless in this case. Their spines have a mission to protect In addition to protecting the plant from predators, it provides shade and reduces water evaporation. They also seem effective in getting them out of boring government buildings.

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