According to the first complete, global evaluation of the species group by NatureServe, IUCN, and collaborators, published in the journal Nature Plants, 31% of cactus species are in danger of going extinct. Cacti are now more endangered than animals and birds, making them one of the most threatened taxonomic groups included on The IUCN Red List of Threatened SpeciesTM.
In light of the fact that more than half of the 1,480 cactus species in the world are used by people, the paper claims that cacti are coming under growing pressure from human activities. The primary risks to cacti, impacting 47% of vulnerable species, are their unsustainable harvesting and the illegal trade in live plants and seeds for the horticulture sector and private collections.
IUCN Director General Inger Andersen commented, “These findings are troubling. They affirm that wildlife trafficking affects many more species than the charismatic rhinos and elephants that typically garner global attention. The scale of the illegal wildlife trade, which includes trade in plants, is significantly bigger than we had previously imagined. If we wish to stop the continuing decrease of these species, we must immediately increase international efforts to combat the illegal wildlife trade and boost the execution of the CITES Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species.
Small-scale annual agriculture, which affects 24 percent of threatened species, and small-scale animal ranching, which affects 31 percent of threatened species, are further dangers to cactus. Other significant concerns to these species include residential and commercial development, quarrying, aquaculture—particularly shrimp farming—which invades cacti habitats.
Arid habitats in the New World are fundamentally dependent on cacti for the survival of numerous animal species. They serve as a food and water supply for a variety of animals, such as deer, woodrats, rabbits, coyotes, turkeys, quails, lizards, and tortoises, all of whom contribute to the distribution of cactus seeds in exchange. Hummingbirds, bats, bees, moths, and other insects all receive nectar from cactus flowers, which helps to fertilize the plants.
People frequently employ cactus species in the horticulture industry, as well as for food and medicine. For rural people, their fruit and extremely nourishing stems are a crucial source of sustenance. One Opuntia ficus-indicaa “prickly pear” cactus stem, popularly known as “nopal” in Mexico, has the same nutritional value as a beef steak, and the roots of species like Ariocarpus kotschoubeyanus, which is designated as Near Threatened, are used as anti-inflammatories.
86 percent of vulnerable cacti used in horticulture are acquired from wild populations; trade in cactus species occurs on a national and international scale and is frequently illegal. The bulk of the illegal cactus trade comes from collectors in Europe and Asia. Because they are so rare, wild-collected specimens are in high demand.
According to Barbara Goettsch, principal author of the study and co-chair of the IUCN’s Cactus and Succulent Plant Specialist Group, “The results of this evaluation come as a shock to us. “We did not anticipate that cactus would face such serious threats and that illegal trading would play such a significant role in their deterioration. For local people who depend on wild-harvested fruit and stems, as well as for the diversity and ecology of dry terrain, their removal could have far-reaching effects.
This study emphasizes the need for more effective and long-term management of cactus populations in a variety of countries. These plants can no longer withstand such high levels of collecting and habitat destruction due to the current expansion in the human population.
Due to the majority of cactus species’ inclusion on the CITES appendices since 1975 and the greater accessibility of plants cultivated from seed on the global market, the illegal trade in cacti has been somewhat curbed. However, the threat of collection still exists, particularly in nations where CITES has just recently been put into effect.
For instance, the once-abundant Echinopsis pampana, a native to Peru’s puna desert, has had its population decline by at least 50% over the past 15 years due to illicit collection for the decorative plant trade. The places where the species historically lived have now experienced land use changes for housing, making its demise irreversible. The species is currently considered endangered.
The many different forms and exquisite flowers of cacti are well known. Except for one species, Rhipsalis baccifera, which is also found in southern Africa, Madagascar, and Sri Lanka, they are endemic to arid regions of the New World. Threatened cactus species are particularly prevalent in the dry regions of Brazil, Chile, Mexico, and Uruguay. Even though they are rich in biodiversity, these places are seen as uninteresting and inconsequential, hence arid-land species like cactus are frequently disregarded in conservation planning. In order to better conserve the species, the authors of the research emphasize the need to increase the coverage of dry land protected areas and to spread awareness of the need of sustainable gathering of cacti from the wild.
According to Kevin Gaston from the University of Exeter, who co-led the Global Cactus Assessment, “the stunning results highlight the critical need of funding and conducting evaluations of the vulnerable status of all species in large groups of plants, such as the cacti. Only by doing this will we be able to acquire a comprehensive understanding of what is happening to them at a time when, as shown by the cactus, they may be facing tremendous human pressure.
According to Mary Klein, President of NatureServe, “cacti are exceptional plants that concentrate water and nutrients required by natural and human societies, in some of the world’s most difficult conditions.
This study indicates that cactus are particularly susceptible, but it also shows that we can preserve these natural wonders for the future by paying close attention to removing dangers like illicit extraction.
Succulents are they in danger?
The diversity and abundance of many succulents are being impacted by the high requirements of these plants. Additionally, the anthropogenic activities in their farming regions are reducing the amount of growth land. Some succulents are being driven to extinction as a result of this unbalanced condition, while others are being added to the IUCN’s red list of endangered species.
Mammillaria herrerae, Agave pax, Aloe pillansii, Estevesia alex-bragae, Parodia rechensis, Monanthes wildpretii, Discocactus subterraneo-proliferans, and Rhipsalis triangularis are a few examples of endangered succulents.
Despite the fact that there are just a few of these species listed, the IUCN reports that “their study shows cactus to be one of the most vulnerable taxonomic groupings studied to date: almost a third (31 percent) of the 1,478 species evaluated are categorized as threatened.
How does the ecosystem benefit from cacti?
In hot regions, cacti frequently serve as “nurse plants,” providing shade and occasionally nutrients that aid in the establishment of seedlings of other species that might not be able to do so in hot or poor soil.
Cacti may be consumed?
You can either leave the pads whole, cut them into strips, or chop them into cubes, depending on how you intend to use this vegetable. Cacti that are edible can be eaten raw or cooked. They can be grilled, sautéed, boiled, simmered, or deep-fried. Their ideal serving texture is soft and crispy. The texture of overcooked pads will be slimy. Combine them with various ingredients to create a range of wholesome, nutrient-rich recipes. Here are some recommendations:
You might need to switch the water you’re using to boil the pads and re-boil them. It’s possible that the sap coming from the pad is thick. As a general rule, the sap will be thicker the thicker the pad. After draining, the pads are washed in cold water. Why not prepare a traditional Mexican salad with diced tomatoes, cilantro, jalapenos, onions, and lime juice? Salt and pepper are other good additions.
Grilling
Season the pads well with salt and pepper if grilling them. When the pads are somewhat brown in color and soft to the touch, they are prepared. Additionally, you may season them with a dash of salt, a squeeze of lime juice, and a little olive oil.
Cactus pads can be added to various meals, either raw or cooked, to create flavorful, nutritious foods. They can be blended into a smoothie, or they can be diced and added as a topping to yogurt or cereal. Why not attempt incorporating them into stews, casseroles, and eggs. They make a delicious addition to quesadillas and salsa. You can choose to consume this adaptable, healthy vegetable alone, in a robust vegetable soup, in a fruit or vegetable salad, or even simply by itself! It can also be prepared into a jelly. Cactus pads can also be pickled and used to other meals as a condiment.
Aloe vera—is it a cactus?
Although aloe vera may look like a cactus, it belongs to the Asphodelaceae family, not the cactus family, according to taxonomy.
The evergreen perennial’s botanical name is A. vera, but it also goes by many other names, including A. barbadensis, A. indica, A. elongata, and more. Burn aloe and real aloe are some additional common names for this plant.
The Arabic word alloeh, which means “shining bitter material,” and the Latin word vera, which means “true,” are the sources of the term aloe.
A very small stem bears up to 39-inch long, dense leaves. When young, the succulent leaves have serrated edges and are green and spotted.
Only if the aloe is grown outside will its greenish-yellow flowers blossom, which emerge from a 35-inch-tall central spike.
The exterior green “rind or skin, a layer of latex, and the mesophyll layer, sometimes known as the “gel,” are the three primary parts of the leaves. This gel serves as a reservoir for water, allowing the plant to photosynthesize even when there is a drought.
Aloe vera gel, which contains 99 percent water and a range of vitamins, minerals, lipids, amino acids, enzymes, and anti-inflammatory hormones, is used widely in conventional and alternative medical procedures.
When applied topically, the gel can be used to treat skin conditions such acne, first- or second-degree burns, bug bites, and bedsores.
You can remove a leaf from a plant you grow at home, cut it open, and scoop out the gel to apply to bug bites or a sunburn.
A layer of yellowish latex containing aloin, which might have negative laxative effects if consumed, lies between the leaf skin and the gel. Aloe should also be avoided by people who are allergic to latex.
Aloe gel is generally safe to consume in modest amounts, say specialists at the Mayo Clinic, but “Aloe latex oral use raises safety issues.
Because of this, it is advisable to avoid ingesting any part of the plant because it can be somewhat poisonous to people and highly toxic to cats, dogs, and horses, according to the ASPCA.
Although aloe vera juice is a well-liked health product, keep in mind that aloin, the component found in latex that gives it its laxative effects, has been removed through processing and purification.
In traditional Chinese medicine, the plant is referred to as Lu Hui, and preparations from it are recommended as a “a purgative that kills parasites and treats constipation
Aside from its industrial and medical applications, this plant is a low-maintenance houseplant that adds interest to a yard. No matter where you reside, you can grow it both indoors and outdoors in USDA Hardiness Zones 9 through 11.
Are cactus a native to America only?
A cactus is a member of the plant family Cactaceae[a], which has about 127 genera and about 1750 recognized species. Cactaceae belongs to the order Caryophyllales.
[4] The Latin word “cactus” is derived from the Ancient Greek word “kktos,” which Theophrastus first used to refer to a spiky plant whose identify is currently unknown. [5] There are many different sizes and shapes of cacti. Most cactus reside in settings that experience at least some drought, despite the fact that some species can tolerate fairly humid situations. Many of them can even be found in the Atacama Desert, one of the driest places on Earth, where they exist in extremely dry circumstances. Cacti have developed a variety of adaptations to conserve water as a result. As an illustration, nearly all cacti are succulents, which means that their swollen, fleshy sections are designed to store water. Unlike many other succulents, most cacti only have a stem where this crucial process occurs. The majority of cacti species no longer have actual leaves; instead, they only have spines, which are heavily modified leaves. Spines help limit water loss by slowing air movement around the cactus and offering some shade, in addition to protecting it from herbivores. Photosynthesis is performed by cacti’s expanded stems in the lack of real leaves. Except for Rhipsalis baccifera, which also grows in Africa and Sri Lanka, all of the Americas, from Patagonia in the south to parts of western Canada in the north, are home to cacti.
Areoles, a type of greatly shortened branch, are specialized structures that create cactus spines. Cacti can be identified by their areoles. Areoles also produce multipetalled, tubular blooms in addition to spines. Because many cacti have extended dormant periods and short growing seasons, they may respond fast to any rainfall. This is made possible by their large but shallow root systems, which swiftly absorb any water that reaches the ground surface. Because cactus stems are frequently ribbed or fluted, they can easily stretch and contract to quickly absorb water after rain and then hold onto it during protracted droughts. The majority of cacti use a unique process called “crassulacean acid metabolism” (CAM) as part of photosynthesis, similar to other succulent plants. Unlike photosynthesis, which occurs during the day, transpiration—during which carbon dioxide enters the plant and water escapes—occurs at night. The plant converts the carbon dioxide it absorbs into malic acid and stores it there until daybreak, when it is solely used for photosynthesis. The cooler, more humid nighttime hours are when transpiration occurs, which greatly reduces water loss.
The globe-shaped stems of many smaller cacti combine the maximum volume of water storage with the smallest surface area of transpiration loss. The largest[b] free-standing cactus is Pachycereus pringlei, which reaches a maximum height of 19.2 m (63 ft)[7], while Blossfeldia liliputiana has the lowest diameter at maturity, measuring just around 1 cm (0.4 in). [8] During a downpour, a mature saguaro (Carnegiea gigantea) is believed to be capable of soaking up 200 US gallons (760 l; 170 imp gal) of water. [9] Only a few species look significantly like the rest of the family. Plants belonging to the genera Leuenbergeria, Rhodocactus, and Pereskia resemble nearby trees and bushes, at least on the surface. They have enduring leaves and, as they age, stems covered with bark. Despite their appearance, they are recognized as cacti by their areoles and have numerous water-saving adaptations. Leuenbergeria is thought to be very closely related to the original species from which all cacti descended. Other cacti develop as forest climbers and epiphytes in tropical areas (plants that grow on trees). Their stems often have fewer or even no spines and are flattened, almost leaf-like in appearance, like the well-known Christmas or Thanksgiving cactus (in the genus Schlumbergera).
Many types of cacti are produced as beautiful plants, while others are raised for fodder or forage, and yet others are utilized as food (particularly their fruit). An bug that lives on some cactus produces cochineal.
Many succulent plants, both in the Old and New Worlds, have spiky stems, including some members of the Euphorbiaceae (euphorbias), which is why they are frequently mistakenly called “cactus.”
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