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 sections 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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Which nations are cactus native to?
Numerous kinds of blooming plants with succulent (water-storing) stems belong to the family Cactaceae. Cacti are unique among all other plants due to the existence of an organ called the areole. Flowers, new branches, and spines emerge from areoles. Spines come in a variety of shapes and sizes; some are delicate and feathery to shield the plant from harsh sunlight, while others are strong and spiky to provide protection. The spines on cacti restrict animals from getting to their water supply, even though they may be one of the few sources of water in arid areas. Cacti have a waxy covering called a cuticle that serves as a barrier against water loss. They also use stomata, which open at night instead of during the day like other plants do, to conserve water. The plant’s stomata are tiny pores that allow carbon dioxide to enter for photosynthesis.
The size of cacti varies according on the species. Blossfeldia liliputana, a South American plant with a mature diameter of less than an inch (2.5 centimeters), may be the smallest cacti species. The Mexican enormous cardon, which is almost 60 feet tall, is the tallest cactus (18 meters).
The majority of cacti genera originated in the Americas and can be found from Canada to Chile. They are now widespread around the world, particularly in Australia, South Africa, and nations in the Mediterranean.
Some people mistakenly believe that cacti are only found in the desert, yet many species, like the prickly pear cactus, may be found in a variety of settings.
Cacti are seed-producing blooming plants. They are able to bloom every year, but when it rains a lot, they will produce a lot of flowers. Different flowers have different looks and smells to draw different pollinators, like insects and bats. Cacti grow slowly and have a long lifespan. Saguaro cacti, for instance, can survive for up to 175 years. Between the ages of 75 and 100, they do not develop their first arms.
Populations of cacti are generally stable. However, some species are diminishing as a result of being taken out of the wild and planted on xeriscaped lawns as decorative plants (landscaped areas that require little or no irrigation).
Most cacti have root systems that stretch out near the ground to absorb as much precipitation as they can. Some species can survive several years of drought because they are adept at storing water.
Cacti can be found anywhere in the world.
Cactus plants come in a wide spectrum of unusual shapes, with spines and colorful flowers. All cacti species, with the exception of four tropical types, are native to the Americas, despite the fact that they are now found all over the world.
What states are cactus found in?
Only a few hardy species of opuntia and escobaria are present in almost every US state and southern Canadian province, although they are much more common in the southwest’s arid areas. Cacti are prevalent in six US states, including (roughly) the following: Arizona (83), California (35), New Mexico (56), Nevada (26), Utah (34) and Texas (91).
The Sonoran, Chihuahuan, and Mojave deserts correspond to the lower elevations and southernmost places where the densest populations can be found. The hottest part of the Sonoran Desert in southeast California and southwest Arizona also has a relatively small number of species for the same reason. The best places to see cacti are south and southeast Arizona, south New Mexico, and far west Texas, especially in the Big Bend region. Of these three, the Mojave has somewhat fewer species due to its low rainfall.
The golden cereus, Munz’s cholla, coastal cholla, chaparral prickly pear, and San Diego barrel cactus are just a few of the rare cactus species that grow in California’s far southwest, close to San Diego, and down the coast into Santa Barbara. These can be seen in locations like Torrey Pines State Reserve, Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, and Cabrillo National Monument, but the majority of California species are found in the southeasterly deserts, specifically in Mojave, Anza Borrego, Death Valley, and Joshua Tree National Parks. Joshua Tree is particularly fruitful because it is located on the border of the Sonoran and Mojave deserts, and as a result, has plants typical of both.
Arizona has two National Park Service (NPS) locations dedicated to particular cacti: Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument in the far south, bordering Mexico, and Saguaro National Park on either side of Tucson. With approximately 30 species, some of which are fairly rare (like senita), this latter area is one of the best cactus places in the entire state. Other cactus-filled desert preserves include Kofa NWR, Sonoran Desert National Monument, Cabeza Prieta NWR, Ironwood Forest National Monument, and Agua Fria National Monument. Several small state parks, like Catalina, Sabino Canyon, Lost Dutchman, and Alamo Lake, also provide an excellent introduction to the local flora. The region in the far southeast between Nogales and the Chiricahua Mountains, which is where certain plants from the adjacent Chihuahuan Desert may be seen, as well as some that are significantly more frequent over the border in Mexico, has the most uncommon species, except from Organ Pipe NM. Cacti, however, are abundant throughout the state; for instance, the Canyon De Chelly National Monument is home to 12 different species. A few areas in the north also contain some extremely rare species, such as the pediocactus bradyii in the Marble Canyon region and the sclerocactus sileri on the Kaibab Plateau. Visit a botanical garden, like the Boyce Thompson Arboretum in Superior or the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum west of Tucson, if you want to observe a wide variety of plant species all in one spot.
Around 20 different varieties of cacti can be found in Nevada’s far south, on the edge of the Mojave Desert. These include the hills that border Lake Mead and Lake Mohave, the foothills of Mount Charleston, and Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. The most prominent species are the Engelmann’s hedgehog cactus, California barrel cactus, many headed barrel, five different varieties of cholla, and several opuntia. The Great Basin Desert covers the rest of the state, which has fewer cacti but still contains a few very unusual species (sclerocactus).
The majority of the state of Utah is covered in cacti, including the Colorado Plateau, the Uinta Basin in the northeast, and low-lying areas of the southwest (on the edge of the Mojave Desert). The well-known national parks (Arches, Capital Reef, Zion, and Canyonlands) are each home to more than a dozen species, and Utah contains about six forms of cactus that are unique to the US. However, there is no one optimum spot (sclerocactus and pediocactus species).
Over 50 cactus species can be found in the Chihuahuan Desert, which makes up the southern third of New Mexico. These species can be found in places like Oliver Lee Memorial State Park, the Carlsbad Caverns National Park backcountry, and (in a botanical garden setting) Living Desert State Park in Carlsbad.
With around 100 different cactus species, Texas is the state with the most. The majority are found along the Rio Grande, close to the Mexican border, particularly in the Big Bend region, in Big Bend National Park and Big Bend Ranch State Park. In particular, the species of coryphantha, echinomastus, and escobaria are at their northernmost ranges on this terrain. In the far south, in the area of Brownsville, there is another cluster of rare species. Cacti can also be found in the Davis Mountains/Fort Davis, Guadalupe Mountains, and Black Gap WMA in the Chihuahuan Desert.
Are cacti found everywhere except North America?
Rhipsalis baccifera is, for the most part, a mediocre cactus. Of course, it has elongated, spindly stems that, at their longest, can reach a length of 30 feet and dangle down from the canopy like giant green dreadlocks. It is an epiphyte, thus it gets its moisture from the air itself to survive. These characteristics, however, are minor compared to the family of plants that includes members with six-inch spines, the ability to survive two years without water, and the ability to release psychedelics to scare away animals.
But R. baccifera has a really unique quality.
It is the only variety of cactus that can be discovered naturally outside of the Americas. R. baccifera has grown wild throughout Africa and India, unlike all of its relatives, at least since botanical records first began to be kept. Due to its white berries and dangling stems, this plant is also known as the “Mistletoe Cactus” or the “Spaghetti Cactus” and has dispersed thousands of kilometers from the rest of its species. And despite decades of research, experts are still unsure of just how it managed to accomplish this done.
The Western hemisphere would be your best bet if you wanted to find cactus in their natural habitat. Aside from our good friend R. Baccifera, “According to Jon P. Rebman and Donald J. Pinkava in Florida Entomologist, cacti are naturally found from Canada’s southernmost point to South America’s tip of Patagonia. Cacti can survive in a wide range of altitudes and environments, from bone-dry valleys to wet jungles, thanks to their remarkable coping mechanisms.
From central Argentina, through Central America, and up into central Florida, R. baccifera can be found growing wild. However, it is also native to Madagascar, Sri Lanka, and tropical Africa. How did it get to those locations? The botanist Ali Eyres describes the several competing views that have been put up by experts on the Reading University Tropical Biodiversity blog. Some of these explanations are more plausible than others, but they are all still speculative.
When it came to the first scenario, R. baccifera followed the same path as many other plants—its seeds were carried by vultures on their migratory routes. It’s well knowledge that birds eat fruits whole, digest them over the ocean, and then defecate the seeds elsewhere. (This is how olives and tropical fruits made it to Australia “To temperate Europe, cardinal’s hats.) The name “R. baccifera” comes from the large, delicious white berries that hold the plant’s seeds “Mistletoe Tree.
Many biogeographers believe that a long-flying species of bird once developed a taste for these berries, munched on them, and then flew to southern Africa, where they dispersed the seeds and produced a new plant. The cactus spread to new locations as a result of more birds, eventually becoming the wide, unique range we see today.
This theory has a few drawbacks. One is that it’s unclear what kind of birds might have accomplished this. In Polibotanica, J. Hugo Cota-Snchez and Mrcia C. Bomfim-Patrcio make this statement “The Atlantic Ocean prevents frugivorous birds from traveling from South America to Southern West Africa. They continue by saying that while a tropical storm or ocean currents may have independently moved the seeds from one beach to the other, it’s also a really remote possibility.
The second possibility that results from this is the “The notion of continental fragmentation was initially put forth by botanical investigators in the early 20th century. In this case, neither the R. baccifera nor the birds had to travel a great distance. They were helped by the Earth.
As summarized by Phillip Maxwell in the New Zealand Cactus and Succulent Journal, if we just assume that our hero cactus was alive throughout the split of the supercontinent of Gondwana, around 184 million years ago, there’s no need to puzzle out dispersal techniques. In this scenario, some R. baccifera are left on each side of the divide when Gondwana splits into what we now know as Africa and South America, steadily drifting apart until millions of years of geological shifts later, they are in completely different time zones.
Although the exact era of cacti’s evolution is unknown, most estimates place it between five and ten million years ago—far too late to have lived through Gondwana. It’s also odd that no other species of the hardy plant family made it to Africa and India if they did arrive early enough to hang around on the supercontinent.
The third and final scenario has a more human feel to it. Several biologists proposed the theory that R. baccifera might have traveled across the ocean with the aid of sailors in the 1980s, possibly 16th century traders via the East India Route. According to this explanation, when they pushed off from Brazil, they picked R. baccifera, one of the rainforest’s most alluring plants, which dangled gracefully from the trees and could easily survive the journey due to its ability to exist without soil.
When they arrived back in port in Africa, they left it behind after using it to brighten the ship’s accommodations. Maxwell refers to this notion as “Cota-Snchez and Bomfim-Patrcio cite R. baccifera as the most plausible, despite the fact that it isn’t particularly shocking and doesn’t typically appear near African port cities.
We might never fully understand how R. baccifera came to be such a widely dispersed cactus. But it’s important to keep in mind that with the correct support, even a humble epiphyte can go quite a distance in today’s world where crossing borders is becoming increasingly dangerous.