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Stems: The Main Part of a Cactus. Visibly defining all cacti is their essential core structure – the columnar or stem-like central component often referred to as a trunk. This vital part supports the entire plant and varies in shape among different species.
Mar 4, 2024 · What are the main parts of a cactus? Cacti are a unique type of plant that has adapted to survive in dry and arid environments. They are known for their thick, fleshy stems, spines, and ability to store water for long periods of time.
A cactus (pl.: cacti, cactuses, or less commonly, cactus) is a member of the plant family Cactaceae (/ k æ ˈ k t eɪ s i aɪ,-s iː iː /), a family comprising about 127 genera with some 1,750 known species of the order Caryophyllales.
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cactus, (family Cactaceae), flowering plant family (order Caryophyllales) with nearly 2,000 species and 139 genera. Cacti are native through most of the length of North and South America, from British Columbia and Alberta southward; the southernmost limit of their range extends far into Chile and Argentina. Mexico has the greatest number and variet...
Cacti are succulent perennial plants. Cacti generally have thick herbaceous or woody chlorophyll-containing stems. Cacti can be distinguished from other succulent plants by the presence of areoles, small cushionlike structures with trichomes (plant hairs) and, in almost all species, spines or barbed bristles (glochids). Areoles are modified branches, from which flowers, more branches, and leaves (when present) may grow.
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In most species, leaves are absent, greatly reduced, or modified as spines, minimizing the amount of surface area from which water can be lost, and the stem has taken over the photosynthetic functions of the plant. Only the tropical genera Pereskia and Pereskopsis, both vines, have conventional-looking functional leaves, while the leaves of the Andean Maihuenia are rounded, not flattened. The root systems are generally thin, fibrous, and shallow, ranging widely to absorb superficial moisture.
Cacti vary greatly in size and general appearance, from buttonlike peyote (Lophophora) and low clumps of prickly pear (Opuntia) and hedgehog cactus (Echinocereus) to the upright columns of barrel cacti (Ferocactus and Echinocactus) and the imposing saguaro (Carnegiea gigantea). Most cacti grow in the ground, but several tropical species—including leaf cactus (Epiphyllum), Rhipsalis, and Schlumbergera—are epiphytes, growing on other plants; others live on hard substrates such as rocks, while yet others climb far up trees. Epiphytic species tend to have thin, almost leaflike flattened stems. The appearance of the plant varies also according to whether the stem surface is smooth or ornamented with protruding tubercles, ridges, or grooves.
The primary method of reproduction is by seeds. Flowers, often large and colourful, are usually solitary. All genera have a floral tube, often with many petal-like structures, and other less colourful and almost leaflike structures; the tube grows above a one-chambered ovary. A style topped by many pollen-receptive stigmas also arises from the top of the ovary. The fruit is usually a berry and contains many seeds. Soon after pollination, which may be effected by wind, birds, insects, or bats, the entire floral tube detaches from the top of the ovary to leave a prominent scar.
Cacti are widely cultivated as ornamentals. In addition, various species, notably prickly pears and chollas (Opuntia and Cylindopuntia, respectively), are cultivated as food. In Central and South America, species of Opuntia, Cereus, and others are used as living fences, and wood from columnar cacti is used as fuel in some desert regions. In times o...
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Echinocactus grusonii. They are modified leaves; in fact, the correct term is foliar thorn (foliar means relative to the leaves). These have different functions: protect from the sun and herbivorous predators, direct the water towards the body of the cactus and prevent the evaporation of the water.
Mar 4, 2024 · The main part of a cactus is called the stem. Unlike other plants, cacti have a unique structure and adaptation to help them survive in arid environments. The stem of a cactus is where photosynthesis takes place and also stores water to help the plant endure long periods of drought.
The Major Parts of a San Pedro Cactus. This guide will cover the form & function of the major parts of the columnar San Pedro Cactus so that you can understand how to identify each part and the role it plays in the overall lifecycle of the cactus.
