Caution!

“Golden barrel” (family Cactaceae).
Man, these “spines” are stiff and needle-sharp! A bit jarring to know that this plant is a part of the plant kingdom known as “succulents”! Have to find out what species it is. I hope you can discern the striations across a couple of these “spines.” I used a close-up filter (+1, I think).

Species page at PhytoImages, http://phytoimages.siu.edu/cgi-bin/dol/dol_terminal.pl?taxon_name=Echinocactus_grusonii&rank=binomial

Taken at the SIUC Plant Biology Greenhouse, http://www.plantbiology.siu.edu/facilities/plant-biology-facilities/greenhouse/index.php

One year ago (“A one-shot day…”): http://365project.org/rhoing/365/2012-02-19
Two years ago (“This from a Red Wings fan?”): http://365project.org/rhoing/365/2011-02-19

[Rick Schies]

They look to be quite dangerous, and I'm sure they would penetrate mighty fast