? Cacti
Mexican Lime Cactus (Ferocactus pilosus) growing south of Saltillo, Coahuila, northeast Mexico
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Caryophyllales Family: Cactaceae Juss.
Genera
See Taxonomy of the Cactaceae Download high resolution version (740x1102, 201 KB)Ferocactus pilosus near Saltillo in Coahuila, northeast Mexico - photo MPF File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Saltillo is a city in northeast Mexico, located at 25°42′ N 101°00′ W. It is the current capital of the state of Coahuila. ... Coahuila (formal name: Coahuila de Zaragoza) is one of Mexicos 31 component states. ... Jump to: navigation, search Scientific classification or biological classification is how biologists group and categorize extinct and living species of organisms. ... Jump to: navigation, search Divisions Land plants (embryophytes) Non-vascular plants (bryophytes) Marchantiophyta - liverworts Anthocerotophyta - hornworts Bryophyta - mosses Vascular plants (tracheophytes) Lycopodiophyta - clubmosses Equisetophyta - horsetails Pteridophyta - true ferns Psilotophyta - whisk ferns Ophioglossophyta - adderstongues Seed plants (spermatophytes) †Pteridospermatophyta - seed ferns Pinophyta - conifers Cycadophyta - cycads Ginkgophyta - ginkgo Gnetophyta - gnetae Magnoliophyta - flowering plants... Jump to: navigation, search Classes Magnoliopsida - Dicots Liliopsida - Monocots The flowering plants (also angiosperms) are a major group of land plants. ... Jump to: navigation, search Orders see text Dicotyledons or dicots are flowering plants whose seed typically contains two embryonic leaves or cotyledons. ... Families Achatocarpaceae Aizoaceae (Fig-marigold family) Amaranthaceae (amaranth family) Ancistrocladaceae Asteropeiaceae Barbeuiaceae Basellaceae (basella family) Cactaceae (cactus family) Caryophyllaceae (carnation family) Dioncophyllaceae Droseraceae (sundew family) Drosophyllaceae Frankeniaceae Molluginaceae (carpetweed family) Nepenthaceae Nyctaginaceae (four-oclock family) Physenaceae Phytolaccaceae (pokeweed family) Plumbaginaceae (plumbago family) Polygonaceae (buckwheat family) Portulacaceae (purslane family) Rhabdodendraceae... Portrait of Antoine-Laurent de Jussieu Antoine Laurent de Jussieu (April 12, 1748 - September 17, 1836) was a French botanist. ... See genus (mathematics) for the use of the term in mathematics. ... Because of their infrequent watering needs, cacti are very easy to grow in pots. ...

A cactus (plural, cacti or cactuses) is a type of (usually) succulent plant belonging to the dicotyledonous flowering plant family, Cactaceae. The Cactaceae has (depending upon the authority) between 24 and 220 genera, with around 90 genera being the most widely accepted count, and with anywhere from 1,500 to 1,800 species. Cacti are well-known natives of the Americas, mostly in desert areas. Some are also rainforest epiphytes, growing on tree branches where, despite the high rainfall, water drains off quickly so that "dry" conditions prevail much of the time. Sempervivum heuffelii, type from Romania, in cultivation, a member of the Crassulaceae, storing water in its thick leaves. ... Jump to: navigation, search Orders see text Dicotyledons or dicots are flowering plants whose seed typically contains two embryonic leaves or cotyledons. ... Jump to: navigation, search Classes Magnoliopsida - Dicots Liliopsida - Monocots The flowering plants (also angiosperms) are a major group of land plants. ... In biology, a genus (plural genera) is a grouping in the classification of living organisms having one or more related and morphologically similar species. ... Jump to: navigation, search In biology, the most commonly used definition of species was first coined by Ernst Mayr. ... Jump to: navigation, search Map of America (as it was then called) by Jonghe, c. ... Jump to: navigation, search A dune in the Egyptian desert Desert in California In geography, a desert is a landscape form or region that receives little precipitation - less than 250 mm per year. ... Jump to: navigation, search Rainforest on Fatu-Hiva, Marquesas Islands A rainforest is a forested biome with high annual rainfall due to the Intertropical convergence zone. ... An example of an epiphyte assemblage of orchids and bromeliads in a garden setting The term epiphyte refers to any plant that grows upon or attached to another living plant. ...

Many species of cactus have long, sharp spikes.

Cacti are almost exclusively New World plants. This means that they are native only in North America and South America. There is however one exception, Rhipsalis baccifera; this species has a pantropical distribution, occurring in the Old World in tropical Africa, Madagascar and Sri Lanka as well as in tropical America. This plant is thought to be a relatively recent colonist in the Old World (within the last few thousand years), probably carried as seeds in the digestive tracts of migratory birds. Many other cacti have become naturalized to similar environments in other parts of the world after being introduced by people. Cactus1. ... Cactus1. ... Jump to: navigation, search Carte dAmérique, Guillaume Delisle, c. ... Jump to: navigation, search World map showing North America A satellite composite image of North America North America is a continent in the northern hemisphere, bordered on the north by the Arctic Ocean, on the east by the North Atlantic Ocean, on the south by the Caribbean Sea, and on... South America South America is a continent crossed by the equator, with most of its area in the Southern Hemisphere. ... The Old World consists of those parts of Earth known to Europeans before the voyages of Christopher Columbus: Europe, Asia, and Africa (collectively known as Africa-Eurasia) and the surrounding islands. ... // Etymology World map showing Africa (geographically) The name Africa came into Western use through the Romans, who used the name Africa terra — land of the Afri (plural, or Afer singular) — for the northern part of the continent, as the province of Africa with its capital Carthage, corresponding to modern-day... // Long-distance land bird migration Many species of land birds migrate very long distances, the most common pattern being for birds to breed in the temperate or arctic northern hemisphere and winter in warmer regions, often in the tropics or the southern hemisphere. ... Jump to: navigation, search Orders Many - see section below. ...

Although many other succulent plants exist in the Old World, even a few with spines, they are not cacti because they lack areoles. These specialized structures are unique to cacti and identify the family. Sempervivum heuffelii, type from Romania, in cultivation, a member of the Crassulaceae, storing water in its thick leaves. ... Areoles are the distinctive feature of cacti, and identify them as a separate family from other succulent plants. ...

Cacti are believed to have evolved in the last 30 to 40 million years. Long ago, the Americas were joined to the other continents, but separated due to continental drift. Unique species in the New World must have developed after the continents had moved apart. Significant distance between the continents was only achieved around in the last 50 million years. This may explain why cacti are so rare in Africa; the continents had already separated when cacti evolved. Jump to: navigation, search Portrayal of shifting continents The concept of continental drift was first proposed by Alfred Wegener. ... This article is about biological evolution. ...

A cactus flower.

Like other succulents, cacti are well-adapted to life with little precipitation. The leaves have evolved into spines, which in addition to allowing less water to evaporate than regular leaves, defend the cactus against water-seeking animals. Photosynthesis is carried out by enlarged stems, which also store water. Unlike many other succulents, the stem is the only part of a true cactus where this takes place. Very few members of the family have leaves, and when present these are usually rudimentary and soon fall off; they are typically awl-shaped and only 1-3 mm long. Two genera, Pereskia and Pereskiopsis, do however retain large, non-succulent leaves 5-25 cm long, and also non-succulent stems; they are possibly primitive genera, thought to be closely similar to the plants that cacti evolved from. Cactus flowers Taken by fir0002 File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Cactus flowers Taken by fir0002 File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Jump to: navigation, search Wildflowers A flower is the reproductive structure of those plants classified as angiosperms (flowering plants; Division Magnoliophyta). ... Jump to: navigation, search In botany, a leaf is an above-ground plant organ specialized for photosynthesis. ... Raised thorns on the stem of the wait-a-bit climber Thorns on rose stems A spine is a rigid, pointed surface protuberance or needle-like structure on an animal, shell, or plant, presumably serving as a defense against attack by predators. ... Jump to: navigation, search Leaf. ... A stem is the above ground axis of a vascular plant. ...

Cacti come in a wide range of shapes and sizes. Some grow to great size. Some cacti produce beautiful flowers, which like spines and branches arise from areoles. Many cactus species are night-blooming, as they are pollinated by nocturnal insects or small animals, principally moths and bats. Cacti range from small and round to pole-like and tall, such as the Saguaro. Jump to: navigation, search Wildflowers A flower is the reproductive structure of those plants classified as angiosperms (flowering plants; Division Magnoliophyta). ... Areoles are the distinctive feature of cacti, and identify them as a separate family from other succulent plants. ... Jump to: navigation, search SEM image of pollen grains from a variety of common plants: sunflower (Helianthus annuus), morning glory (Ipomea purpurea), hollyhock (Sildalcea malviflora), lily (Lilium auratum), primrose (Oenothera fruticosa), and castor bean (Ricinus communis). ... A nocturnal animal is one that sleeps during the day and is active at night - the opposite of the human (diurnal) schedule. ... Jump to: navigation, search Classes & Orders Subclass: Apterygota Orders Archaeognatha (Bristletails) Thysanura (Silverfish) Monura - extinct Subclass: Pterygota Orders Ephemeroptera (mayflies) Odonata (dragonflies and damselflies) Diaphanopteroidea - extinct Palaeodictyoptera - extinct Megasecoptera - extinct Archodonata - extinct Infraclass: Neoptera Orders Blattodea (cockroaches) Isoptera (termites) Mantodea (mantids) Dermaptera (earwigs) Plecoptera (stoneflies) Orthoptera (grasshoppers, etc) Phasmatodea (walking... Jump to: navigation, search A moth is an insect closely related to the butterfly. ... Jump to: navigation, search Families Antrozoidae Craseonycteridae Emballonuridae Furipteridae Megadermatidae Molossidae Mormoopidae Mystacinidae Myzopodidae Natalidae Noctilionidae Nycteridae Phyllostomidae Pteropodidae Rhinolophidae Rhinopomatidae Thyropteridae Vespertilionidae Bats are flying mammals in order Chiroptera with forelimbs developed as wings. ... Jump to: navigation, search Synonyms Binomial name Carnegiea gigantea Britton & Rose The saguaro (Carnegiea gigantea) is a large, tree-sized cactus species that is native to the Sonoran Desert in the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. ...

A number of cactus species are cultivated for use as houseplants, as well as for ornamental gardens. They often form part of xerophilic (dry) gardens in arid regions. Some cacti bear edible fruit. Xeriscaping, a word coined by combining xeros (Greek for dry) with landscaping, is a water-conservative approach to landscaping. ...

Selected important generainclude the following; for a full list see Taxonomy of the Cactaceae Because of their infrequent watering needs, cacti are very easy to grow in pots. ...

• Acanthocereus - triangle cactus
• Ariocarpus - living rock
• Bergerocactus - snakecactus
• Carnegiea - saguaro
• Cephalocereus - old man cactus
• Cereus - sweetpotato cactus
• Coryphantha - beehive cactus
• Echinocactus - barrel cactus
• Echinocereus - hedgehog cactus
• Echinopsis - San Pedro
• Epiphyllum - climbing cactus
• Epithelantha - pingpong ball cactus
• Escobaria - foxtail cactus, pincushion cactus
• Ferocactus - barrel cactus
• Gymnocalycium - Chin cactus
• Harrisia - applecactus
• Hylocereus - nightblooming cactus
• Lophophora - peyote
• Mammillaria - fishhook cactus, globe cactus, bird's-nest cactus
• Opuntia - prickly pear, cholla
• Pediocactus - hedgehog cactus
• Pilosocereus - tree cactus
• Schlumbergera - holiday cactus
• Sclerocactus - fishhook cactus
• Selenicereus - moonlight cactus, nightblooming cereus
• Turbinicarpus - top cactus

Species See text Acanthocereus (Engelmann ex A. Berger) Britton et Rose 1909, is a genus of cacti taking the form of shrubs with arching or climbing stems up to several meters in height. ... Species Ariocarpus agavoides Ariocarpus bravoanus Ariocarpus fissuratus Ariocarpus retusus etc. ... The term living rock refers to several genera of dwarf, cryptic cacti, especially: Ariocarpus Astrophytum Aztekium Epithelantha Geohintonia Lophophora Obregonia Turbinicarpus Strombocactus This is a disambiguation page, a list of pages that otherwise might share the same title. ... Species The cactus genus Bergerocactus, named after Alwin Berger, is constituted by only 1 species (). Description This species is frail, appear in clusters, has upto 20 ribs and ramifications. ... Binomial name Carnegiea gigantea Saguaro (Carnegiea gigantea) is a large, tree-sized cactus that is native to the Sonoran Desert in the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. ... Jump to: navigation, search Synonyms Binomial name Carnegiea gigantea Britton & Rose The saguaro (Carnegiea gigantea) is a large, tree-sized cactus species that is native to the Sonoran Desert in the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. ... Species Cephalocereus chrysacanthus Cephalocereus nobilis Cephalocereus senilis etc. ... Binomial name Cephalocereus senilis The Old Man Cactus is a tree-like cactus native to Mexico. ... Species Cereus adelmarii Cereus bicolor Cereus comarapanus Cereus fricii Cereus horrispinus Cereus jamacaru Cereus pachyrhizus Cereus spegazzinii Cereus trigonodendron Cereus vargasianus Cereus is a genus of cacti. ... Species Coryphantha compacta Coryphantha difficilis Coryphantha nickelsiae Coryphantha radians Coryphantha robustispina Coryphantha salinensis Coryphantha (from Greek, flowering on the top) is a genus of small to middle-sized, globous to short-columnar cacti. ... Species 6 species: see species list Echinocactus are large and beautiful barrel shaped cacti, usually with large spines and small flowers. ... A Barrel cactus is a type of cactus characterized by being approximately barrel-shaped. ... Species Various species: see species list Echinocereus is a genus of ribbed, usually small to medium-sized cylindrical cacti, commonly known as Hedgehog cacti. ... Species Various species: see species list Echinocereus is a genus of ribbed, usually small to medium-sized cylindrical cacti, commonly known as Hedgehog cacti. ... Species about 128, see text Echinopsis (Zuccarini 1837) is a large genus of cacti native to South America, sometimes refered to as sea-urchin cactus or Easter lily cactus. ... Binomial name Trichocereus pachanoi San Pedro cactus (Trichocereus pachanoi) is a fast-growing cactus native to the Andes of Peru, Ecuador and Bolivia. ... Species About 19 species, including: Epiphyllum anguliger Epiphyllum caudatum Epiphyllum chrysocardium Epiphyllum crenatum Epiphyllum guatemalense Epiphyllum hookeri Epiphyllum lepidocarpum Epiphyllum macropterum Epiphyllum oxypetalum Epiphyllum phyllanthus Epiphyllum pumilum Epiphyllum thomasianum Epiphyllum (Epiphyllum) is a genus of 19 species of epiphytic plants in the cactus family Cactaceae, native to Central America. ... Species Epithelantha bokei Epithelantha micromeris Button cacti or pingpong ball cacti (genus Epithelantha) are a genus of cacti. ... Species Epithelantha bokei Epithelantha micromeris Button cacti or pingpong ball cacti (genus Epithelantha) are a genus of cacti. ... Species about 23, see text Escobaria is a genus of low-growing cacti that range from the southernmost parts of central and western Canada through northern Mexico, with one species in Cuba. ... Species Various species: see species list Most of the barrel cacti are of the genus Ferocactus, with the remainder belonging to genus Echinocactus. ... A Barrel cactus is a type of cactus characterized by being approximately barrel-shaped. ... Gymnocalycium is a genus of about 70 South American species of cactus. ... Species See text Gymnocalycium, commonly called chin catcus, is a genus of about 70 South American species of cactus. ... Species Harrisia balansae Harrisia martinii Harrisia portoricensis Harrisia tetracantha etc. ... The Peruvian apple cactus Cereus repandus L., is a large erect, thorny columnar cactus found in South America. ... Species Hylocereus lemairei Hylocereus minutiflorus Hylocereus polyrhizus - dragonfruit Hylocereus undatus - dragonfruit, pitaya, pitahaya, strawberry pear etc. ... The term nightblooming cactus (night-blooming cactus) refers to either of these two cacti genera: Hylocereus Selenicereus, or moonlight cacti See also nightblooming cereus. ... Species Lophophora diffusa Lophophora williamsii - Peyote Lophophora (J. M. Coulter 1894) is a genus of spineless, button-like cacti native to the southwestern United States (Texas and New Mexico) through northeast Mexico south to Querétaro. ... Jump to: navigation, search Binomial name Lophophora williamsii (Lem. ... Jump to: navigation, search Species 171 known species: see Species list. ... Species See Example species. ... Species Many, see text Opuntia is a genus in the cactus family Cactaceae. ... Species Many, see text Opuntia is a genus in the cactus family Cactaceae. ... Species Pediocactus despainii Pediocactus hermannii Pediocactus peeblesianus - Peebles Navajo cactus Pediocactus simpsonii Pediocactus-winkleri etc. ... Species Various species: see species list Echinocereus is a genus of ribbed, usually small to medium-sized cylindrical cacti, commonly known as Hedgehog cacti. ... Species Pilosocereus catingicola Pilosocereus fulvilanatus Pilosocereus glaucescens Pilosocereus lanuginosus etc. ... Species 6 species: see species list Schlumbergera is a genus of six known tree dwelling cacti from Brazil. ... Species Sclerocactus glaucus Sclerocactus mesae-verde Sclerocactus parviflorus Sclerocactus wetlandicus etc. ... Species Selenicereus anthonyanus Selenicereus chrysocardium Selenicereus inermis Selenicereus rubineus Selenicereus tricae Selenicereus wittii etc. ... Species Selenicereus anthonyanus Selenicereus chrysocardium Selenicereus inermis Selenicereus rubineus Selenicereus tricae Selenicereus wittii etc. ... Nightblooming cereus (night-blooming cereus, night blooming cereus), Reina de la noche or Queen of the night are names of many cacti - among others: Selenicereus grandiflorus (genuine queen of the night) Arizona queen of the night Epiphyllum oxypetalum See also nightblooming cactus. ... Species Turbinicactus flaviflorus Turbinicactus schmiedickeanus Turbinicactus viereckii etc. ...

See also

• Plant
• Succulent

Jump to: navigation, search Divisions Land plants (embryophytes) Non-vascular plants (bryophytes) Marchantiophyta - liverworts Anthocerotophyta - hornworts Bryophyta - mosses Vascular plants (tracheophytes) Lycopodiophyta - clubmosses Equisetophyta - horsetails Pteridophyta - true ferns Psilotophyta - whisk ferns Ophioglossophyta - adderstongues Seed plants (spermatophytes) †Pteridospermatophyta - seed ferns Pinophyta - conifers Cycadophyta - cycads Ginkgophyta - ginkgo Gnetophyta - gnetae Magnoliophyta - flowering plants... Succulent plants, or succulents, are plants that store water in their enlarged fleshy leaves, stems, or roots. ...

References and external links

• Anderson, Edward F. The Cactus Family (Timber Press, 2001) ISBN 0-88192-498-9 - Comprehensive and lavishly illustrated
• Benson, Lyman The Cacti of Arizona (The University of Arizona Press, 1981) ISBN 0-8165-0509-8 - Thorough treatment of the Arizona, U.S.A., species
• CactiGuide.com - many photos, and discussion forum
• Cactus portal
• Hydrocactus flowering Cacti videos

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