The cactus family is known for its prickly spines, which are actually altered leaves. The kind of leaves that a maple or oak tree has are not present on cacti. But in the distant past, they might have had leaves that were at least somewhat more similar. Due to the fact that they aid the plants in surviving in hot, dry situations, those leaves eventually changed into the prickly spines we see on cactuses today.
“They could serve as a defensive strategy to prevent herbivores, or animals that consume plants, from consuming the cactus. But spines also produce shade! “Kimberlie McCue says.
“When you are covered with spines, those spines are throwing shadows on the cactus’ body as the sun moves across the sky. They are tiny umbrellas for shade.”
All cacti are native to arid regions, and some can even survive in dry climates. How do they acquire water to exist, then? Kimberlie informs us that these plants can be found close to the water.
“There will be fog coming off the ocean in the morning. Water condenses on those spines, forming tiny droplets, which then flow down the spine, to the plant’s body, to the soil, and to the roots.”
As they hold the soil in place and offer shelter to birds and other creatures, cactuses are also crucial components of their desert ecosystems. In exchange, such animals and birds assist in pollinating the cactus flowers. Cacti are a significant local source of food for people.
Cactuses are unfortunately threatened by people who illegally steal natural plants from their surroundings. According to Kimberlie McCue, being cautious when purchasing cactus plants is one method to ensure that cacti remain healthy and numerous. Before you buy, find out where the cactus came from and confirm that the vendor is being a responsible steward of these plants.
Why do cacti have spines?
The prickly pear cactus found in Mexico has the potential to become a fantastic energy source in the future.
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Cacti are among my favorite plant species, and their needles undoubtedly make them distinctive. In many respects, the needles that cover cactus are essential to their survival. Since many cacti are found in dry environments, these plants need to store a lot of water in order to thrive. In fact, according to scientists, water makes up between 90 and 94 percent of a cactus plant. Cacti are ideal treats for thirsty species due to their high water content. Animals that consume cactus in the wild include quail, kangaroo rats, sheep, desert tortoises, as well as a variety of insects. In order to stop thirsty or hungry animals from eating or harming the plant, cacti contain needles.
Additionally, you could see that the color and texture of cactus spines might vary. While some spines are fluffy, others are stiff. The color of the spines can also vary, from white to gray to pink! Because of these variations in spine color and texture, cactus can more effectively blend into their surroundings (i.e. camouflage). Therefore, a second reason cacti have needles is to enable them to conceal from harmful species.
Heat is a significant issue in desert regions where there are many cacti. The needles of a cactus can offer protection from the sun so that it can thrive in these scorching temperatures. Although it may not seem like a single needle may offer much shade, several cacti species have needles that are grouped closely together. The plant is shaded by these spine clusters, which resemble small umbrellas. These spines provide shade for the cactus, which helps keep water from evaporating and causing water loss.
All in all, cactus use their spines as protective and hiding mechanisms against potential predators. Additionally, they give the plant shade, which keeps it cooler and prevents water loss.
Why does a cactus’ stem have spines?
Cacti have numerous adaptations that enable them to survive in arid climates; these adaptations enable the plant to efficiently gather water, store it for a long time, and conserve it (minimizing water loss from evaporation).
Cacti have thick, succulent stems with rigid walls that store water when it rains. The stems are fleshy, green, and photosynthetic. Either the stem’s inside is spongey or hollow (depending on the cactus). The water inside the cactus is prevented from evaporating by a thick, waxy layer.
Long, fibrous roots are common in cactus, and these roots take moisture from the earth. Some cacti, such as ball cacti, have smaller, more compact roots that can capture dew that falls from the cactus.
Most cacti feature scales or spines in place of leaves (which are modified leaves). These scales and spines do not evaporate their water (unlike regular leaves, which lose a lot of water). Predators (animals that would like to consume the cactus to gain food and/or water) are kept at bay by the spines. On a cactus, areoles are a circular collection of spines. An areole is where flowers bud, and it is also where new stems branch.
Why do cacti lack leaves and have spines?
A. What a wonderful question. Due to the dry, hot climate in which they arose and currently thrive, the majority of cacti lack typical leaves.
They have evolved to store water for as long as they can while it is available in order to survive. When it rains, their enormous root system is particularly effective at pulling moisture from the ground.
A normal leaf loses a lot of water through the stomatas, which are tiny openings spread out throughout the surface of the leaf. Transpiration is the term for this water loss, which is accelerated by hotter temperatures.
Cacti have evolved by losing their leaves and developing spines instead of thorns. There is a significant distinction between the two. While spines are a type of leaf alteration, thorns are a type of stem.
Cactus spines provide a microclimate by protecting the rounded or ribbed stems from the hot desert heat.
By providing cover from predators, they also serve to protect several types of desert animals.
Others use it as food, indulging in the prickly plant portions without suffering any negative consequences. Humans who may carelessly handle, take, or smell the flowers that sporadically blossom on them are discouraged by the spines.
Here is a fascinating natural anomaly. In comparison to cacti of the same species growing in partially shaded environments, such as canyons or beneath big stones, those exposed to full light have a denser covering of spines.
Q. This spring, my lovely “Gertrude Jekyll rose” is not flourishing. The new growth appears strange. There is little growth and the leaves are distorted. I believe that I have a pesticide residue issue.
A. Although it’s technically not a residue concern, this is a herbicide/pesticide problem. You or your gardener applied a weed killer containing glyphosate too closely to the plant.
Unintentionally, the spray drifted onto the canes or the foliage. There are numerous weed herbicides having glyphosate in them, with RoundUp being the most popular.
Glyphosate cannot be absorbed by plant roots, making it safe to use underneath the canopies of the majority of plants. The leaves and other green tissue on the stems, twigs, and branches serve as the point of entry. The herbicide descends, interfering with vital plant processes and causing the plant to fall over and die.
Due to the extreme greenness of all the new and/or existing canes, roses are extremely prone. Another plant that is susceptible to injury is the camellia. The other is the crape myrtle.
By employing a cardboard plant barrier, you can successfully spray glyphosate around roses and any other plant. Spray drift is stopped by the plant shield.
As you spray, you move the barrier from plant to plant. That your rose will recover is fantastic news. The growth might not resume at all for up to two growing seasons.
Why do plants in the desert have spines?
The thorny plants, like cactus, are attractive to look at but difficult to manage because most people are reluctant to admit they would enjoy having one because of the potential for intense discomfort. Cactus, agave, and mesquite are examples of desert plants that must endure in areas with little water. To live, these desert plants must contend with a variety of strange situations.
Other plants lose moisture through the pores on their leaves and stems, which they have. Therefore, in order to lock in the meager amounts of moisture they have, these desert plants must avoid those pores. As a result, these leaves lack pores and develop hard, dry spines or thorns. By not releasing any moisture at all, these thorns save water. The lower, greener portion of a leaf has the least amount of activity, assisting the plant’s survival. To protect themselves from being nibbled on, the spikes also cover the pores.
- They are short because of a slower development mechanism.
- Desert plants must make efficient use of their limited water supply.
- Even still, they develop much more slowly than typical plants do.
As a result, these clever prickly bushes develop slowly while protecting themselves and preserving resources.
How do cacti with spines help desert plants survive?
Being a desert plant, your goal is to prevent water reduction. As strange as it may seem, cactus spines actually work to prevent water loss in cacti.
Cactus spines primarily stop cacti from losing water by decreasing air flow around the plant. Air flow is broken up by spines, which can aid in lowering evaporation. A buffer zone with air that is a little bit more humid can also be produced by the trapped air surrounding the cactus.
This is significant because plants lose a lot of water as it evaporates off their leaves.
Why do Class 6 cactus plants have spines?
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Question 6:
Which plant’s stem, rather than the leaves, performs photosynthesis?
Cactus leaves have been transformed into spines. All of the tasks that would normally be carried out by leaves, including photosynthesis, are carried out by the green stem.
Question 10:
Through transpiration, a plant’s leaves control its water content. Nutrients and water are taken up from the roots as the plant loses water through transpiration.
“A number of thin fibre-like roots coming from the base of the stem” describes what?
A grass plant is defined as having “a number of thin, fiber-like roots emerging from the base of the stem.” Fibrous roots are the name given to these roots.
The ginger plant’s underground fleshy portion is a modified stem that stores food.
Plants with flimsy stems can be supported by these structures, which can be formed from both stems and leaves.
Plants with flimsy stems can benefit from tendrils, which can be formed from both stems and leaves.
Question 11:
Transporting water, minerals, and food is what the veiny network of a leaf does. It also helps to support the leaf.
When a flower is pollinated, pollen grains are moved from the anther to the stigma of the same bloom or to another flower by wind, water, or insects.
From the branches, prop roots extend downward, and once they touch the ground, they firmly anchor themselves to it. They give some plants, like banyan trees, extra support for their massive branches.
Because it produces food for the plant through the process of photosynthesis, the leaf is known as the “food factory” of plants.
Give each of the following’s key purposes:
(a) Root: They draw water and minerals from the soil, giving the plant’s vital nutrition.
(b) Stem: They support the plant’s erect posture. They move food, minerals, and water to all areas of the plant.
(c) Leaf: The preparation of food through photosynthesis is the leaf’s most significant function.
(d) Flower: A flower’s primary purpose is to serve as a site for reproduction. It has both male and female reproductive components, the stamen and pistil.
Cut the base off of a balsam plant. Take some water and a few drops of red ink and combine them in a beaker. For one day, place the plant inside this beaker. Next day, check on the plant. The stem, leaves, and flower petals all have fine red lines that may be seen. This experiment illustrates how plants move water around.
Why are cactus plant leaves changed to have spines? So how does the plant produce food?
Cacti thrive in arid climates with limited water supplies. To stop water loss from the surface of the leaves, cactus leaves have been adapted to become spined. Chlorophyll can be found in the cactus plant’s green stem. As a result, rather than the leaves, the stem serves as the primary site of photosynthesis in cactus plants.
Make a labeled diagram to demonstrate how leaves transpire. How can a plant benefit from transpiration?
More water is drawn in from the roots as water vapour is expelled from the leaves during the transpiration process. More nutrients and minerals are also absorbed by the roots as a result of the water flow.
Create a diagram of a flower’s section with the sepals, petals, stamens, and pistil visible.
The majority of flowers share a similar fundamental structure.
The diagram below can be used to illustrate the structure of a flower:
Question 13:
The anther produces tiny particles that are crucial for reproduction. Mention them.
Pollen grains are the little particles created in the anther. They engage in sexual reproduction.
Question 14:
Even a small mango plant’s stem will be brown and rigid, which typically indicates a trait of a tree stem, hence a small mango plant cannot be classified as a herb. Additionally, this trait shows that the plant is still developing and has not reached full development.
Some flowers are pollinated by the wind rather than by insects. Do you believe these flowers are as beautiful as those that are pollinated by insects?
Flowers that are pollinated by the wind are often tiny, colorless, and odorless. Insects are therefore not drawn to these kinds of flowers. Such blooms will have many, dusty pollen grains that are vast in number and easily swept away by the wind.
The wind-pollinated flowers are less appealing than the insect-pollinated blossoms when the two types of flowers are contrasted.
How is preparing food for you in the kitchen different from preparing food for a plant via a leaf?
Without the need for carbon dioxide or sunlight, we cook our food right in the kitchen. We prepare food in the kitchen using materials that are either derived from plants or animals.
In contrast, plants use photosynthesis, which involves water being absorbed by the roots and carbon dioxide from the air, to create their food.