Cactus Identification: The Bunny Ears cactus is identified by its flat, disc-shaped stems covered in small tufts of fine hairs. This cactus can be easily identified due to the characteristic look of a rabbit’s ears. Old Lady Cactus (Mammillaria hahniana) The old lady is a ball-shaped type of cactus that can be grown indoors
What is another name for a cactus?
Alternative Titles: Cactaceae, cacti, cactuses. Cactus, (family Cactaceae), plural cacti or cactuses, flowering plant family (order Caryophyllales with more than 2,000 species and about 175 genera.
What is the name of the small cactus with large spheres?
The small cactus spheres form larger clusters. The Crown Cactus is one of the first cacti to blossom in spring. The small round cactus also has the botanical name Rebutia minuscula. Cactus identification: The Crown Cactus is a small globe-like cactus with white or tan-colored spiny tufts covering its bumpy surface.
Is there a cactus that looks like a tree?
This is another tall variety of tree-like cactus native to South America. The tall cactus grows up to 40 feet when mature and forms distinct features such as segmented stems. It also forms tough spines, which earned it the Latin name ‘Armed Cereus.’ Others have no spines, while others have very little.
What kind of cactus is a balloon cactus?
The Balloon cactus is a beautiful round cactus with large yellow flower This large cactus, the Balloon cactus, certainly lives up to its scientific name, the Parodia magnifica – Many describe the appearance of this round cactus as magnificent.
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What is the tall skinny cactus called?
Pencil Cactus (Euphorbia tirucalli) You can use pencil cactus as a houseplant and maintain its height up to the ceiling height. It grows in a slender and toothed look with foliage which is not easily noticeable. Its branches can only grow to a diameter of a pencil; hence, the name.
What are the three types of cactus?
The three common holiday cacti, named for the time of year the blooms appear, include Thanksgiving cactus, Christmas cactus, and Easter cactus. All three are easy to grow and have similar growth habits and care requirements.
What are the different types of cactus?
Prickly pearSchlumber...SaguaroSan Pedro cactusGolden barrel cactusBarbary figCactus/Lower classifications
How do I identify what kind of cactus I have?
You can find out by looking at their leaves. Spines on a leaf will be needle-like and sharp, while non-spiny types have soft edges. Some other helpful clues about your cacti plant would be the color and shape of its leaves.
What is columnar cactus?
Columnar cacti are defined as upright, cylinder-shaped cacti which may or may not have branches. A large number of columnar cacti are cereoid or cereus, which describes their elongated bodies. Planting a saguaro is an investment; they can live from 150 to 200 years.
What are the 10 most popular cactus?
The most popular types of cactus as listed by cactus enthusiasts and cactus growing sites include:Easter cactus.Old lady cactus.Bunny ear cactus.Blue columnar cactus.Star cactus.Barrel cactus.Fairy castle cactus.Saguaro cactus.More items...
What is the most common type of cactus?
Growing a Saguaro Cactus The big size of this plant doesn't mean that you cannot grow it indoors or in your home garden. In fact, the cactus is among the most common indoor cacti plants in the United States and other parts of North America.
What are round cactus called?
ball cactus, (genus Parodia), genus of 60–70 species of cacti (family Cactaceae) native to the grasslands of South America. Several species are commonly cultivated as potted plants, including silver ball cactus (Parodia scopa) and golden ball cactus (P.
Are there different types of barrel cactus?
Ferocactus latispinusFerocactus glaucescensSouthwest... barrel cactusCalifornia barrel cactusFerocactus emoryiFerocactus viridescensFerocactus/Lower classifications
How many cactus types are there?
Prickly pearSchlumber...SaguaroSan Pedro cactusGolden barrel cactusBarbary figCactus/Lower classifications
How can you tell a succulent from a cactus?
Cacti sport areoles from which spring spines, prickles, leaves, stems, or flowers. These are round and surrounded by trichomes, hairy little structures. They may also sport glochids which are fine spines. Other types of succulents do not produce areoles and are therefore, no cacti.
How many different varieties of cactus are there?
2,000 speciescactus, (family Cactaceae), plural cacti or cactuses, flowering plant family (order Caryophyllales) with nearly 2,000 species and 139 genera.
What is the name of the cactus that has tiny pink flowers?
The old lady cactus is a type of pincushion cactus in the mammillaria family, which has 250 species. It has hairs and spines and is known for its halo of tiny pink or purple flowers that bloom in spring. The old lady cactus should be planted in a sandy potting mix and watered every other week.
What are the structures of a cactus?
Cacti have structures called areolas, small cushioned shapes that grow spines, branches or hair, that define their family. Many succulents don’t have areolas and so are classified in a different plant family. While Cacti are commonly thought of as desert plants, they can thrive in a home environment too.
What is the color of moon cactus?
Also known as chin cactus, the moon cactus varies in size, shape and color. A popular variety is the hibotan cactus. It originated in South America and comes in bright reds, pinks, yellows and oranges. These small plants thrive on window sills that get partial light.
What is a chin cactus?
Chin Cactus (Gymnocalycium) Popularly known as the chin cactus, the gymnocalycium is a South American species of cactus. It’s name means “naked kalyx” in Greek which refers to the lack of hair or spines on the flower buds. Depending on the variety, some chin cacti seek shade while others thrive in sunlight.
How big does a star cactus get?
It is covered with white hairs and tiny white dots. In the spring it blooms a yellow flower. The star cactus only grows two to six inches in diameter, making it an ideal house plant.
How big do bunny ears cactus get?
They are covered with glochids or brown prickles and should be handled with care. The bunny ears cactus grows to two or three feet, making it the perfect house plant. It produces white flowers and purple fruits in the summer if exposed to enough light.
How big can a Saguaro cactus grow?
The Saguaro cactus can grow to forty feet, but it grows slowly. This means it can be used as an indoor plant for years before you need to move it outdoors. It has a barrel-shaped body, giving it the classic cactus appearance. Native to the Sonoran Desert, this plant requires a lot of light.
What are cactus flowers?
Like their spines, cactus flowers are variable. Typically, the ovary is surrounded by material derived from stem or receptacle tissue, forming a structure called a pericarpel. Tissue derived from the petals and sepals continues the pericarpel, forming a composite tube—the whole may be called a floral tube, although strictly speaking only the part furthest from the base is floral in origin. The outside of the tubular structure often has areoles that produce wool and spines. Typically, the tube also has small scale-like bracts, which gradually change into sepal-like and then petal-like structures, so the sepals and petals cannot be clearly differentiated (and hence are often called " tepals "). Some cacti produce floral tubes without wool or spines (e.g. Gymnocalycium) or completely devoid of any external structures (e.g. Mammillaria ). Unlike the flowers of most other cacti, Pereskia flowers may be borne in clusters.
How tall is the smallest cactus?
The tallest free-standing cactus is Pachycereus pringlei, with a maximum recorded height of 19.2 m (63 ft), and the smallest is Blossfeldia liliputiana, only about 1 cm (0.4 in) in diameter at maturity.
What are cacti like?
In most other cacti, the branches are more typically cactus-like, bare of leaves and bark, and covered with spines, as in Pachycereus pringlei or the larger opuntias. Some cacti may become tree-sized but without branches, such as larger specimens of Echinocactus platyacanthus. Cacti may also be described as shrubby, with several stems coming from the ground or from branches very low down, such as in Stenocereus thurberi.
Where do cacti grow?
Cacti are often grown in greenhouses, particularly in regions unsuited to the cultivation of cacti outdoors, such the northern parts of Europe and North America. Here, they may be kept in pots or grown in the ground. Cacti are also grown as houseplants, many being tolerant of the often dry atmosphere. Cacti in pots may be placed outside in the summer to ornament gardens or patios, and then kept under cover during the winter. Less drought-resistant epiphytes, such as epiphyllum hybrids, Schlumbergera (the Thanksgiving or Christmas cactus) and Hatiora (the Easter cactus), are widely cultivated as houseplants.
What is a cactus in Singapore?
Many species of cactus have long, sharp spines, like this Opuntia. A cactus (plural cacti, cactuses, or less commonly, cactus) is a member of the plant family Cactaceae, a family comprising about 127 genera with some 1750 known species ...
What are the spines of cactus?
Cactus spines are produced from specialized structures called areoles, a kind of highly reduced branch. Areoles are an identifying feature of cacti. As well as spines, areoles give rise to flowers, which are usually tubular and multipetaled.
Where did the word "cactus" come from?
The word "cactus" derives, through Latin, from the Ancient Greek κάκτος, kaktos, a name originally used by Theophrastus for a spiny plant whose identity is now not certain. Cacti occur in a wide range of shapes and sizes. Most cacti live in habitats subject to at least some drought.
Which cactus is more confusing?
Echinopsis. The only cactus genus that is more confusing than Echinopsis is that of Opuntia. In both cases, there is a great number of species (over 100) and a tremendous amount of variation. In Echinopsis plants range from very small, flattened-globose plants to quite large, treelike giants.
Where do cactus grow?
This genus occurs in the tropics of Southern Mexico, Central America, Northern South America, the Caribbean and even Florida. Examples of Acanthocereus cacti: Acanthocereus tetragonus ‘Fairy Castle Cactus’ ‘.
How big are Acharagma plants?
Two species from Coahuila and Nuevo Leon-Mexico make up the entirety of the Genus Acharagma. These plants have globose bodies less than 3 inches in diameter and no more than 3 inches high. They may be somewhat cylindrical in shape and typically grow as individuals, but may put off several offsets from the bottom.
What are some examples of arcrojadoa cacti?
Fruits are small juicy berries – pink, purple or red. Examples of Arrojadoa cacti: Arrojadoa dinae. Arrojadoa rhodantha.
How many species of cactus are there?
The cactus is from the plant family of the Cactaceae. There are about 300 genera and 3,000 species. The family has many well-known species because they are easy to keep alive as a houseplant and are seen as decorative. The plants can be classified according to their shapes.
What is the function of a cactus?
Cactus belongs to the succulents’ group, plants that can absorb and store large amounts of water in their plant body and roots. In this way they can go without water for extremely long periods. The thorns also have a similar function. They can absorb dew and thus provide extra moisture.
Why is the ferocactus called the traveler's friend?
Bolstered by errant folklore, the Ferocactus has been nicknamed “The Traveler’s Friend”. This is due to the belief that these “living barrels” are reservoirs of fresh drinking water in the hot arid deserts just waiting to be tapped into by a parched and wayward visitor.
What are the different types of cacti?
However, it is important to take a note of some of the more generic names that you might come across these are likely to include: Ladyfinger cactus. Old lady cactus.
How many limbs does a cactus have?
When many people picture a cactus, they see that iconic barrel cactus with two limbs. While those are a common breed of cactus, the cactus family of plants is much more varied than that.
What is the lowest temperature a cactus can survive?
For a majority of cacti, the lowest temperature they are able to survive at is freezing (~32 degrees Fahrenheit). In a general sense, though, the lowest temperature a cactus will be able to survive at depends greatly upon the species. However, there are some cacti that can truly survive in sub-zero habitats.
Why do cacti die?
The most common cause of cactus death is typically due to excessive amounts of moisture in the soil, often the result of overwatering. Because cacti often do not need as much water when compared to other flowering plants, it is easy to overestimate how much water they need. It is also possible for cacti to die from low temperatures, though some species are able to survive extremely low temperatures.
How big does a Christmas cactus grow?
This houseplant grows to between six and 12 inches tall and six to 18 inches wide. The exact size of your Christmas Cactus may vary depending on the size of the pot. Like most cacti, this plant is drought tolerant and doesn’t need much maintenance. The plant itself costs between five and 15 dollars.
What color are Easter cactus blooms?
The blooms on the Easter Cactus can be red, white, peach, orange, and even lavender. Unlike other cacti, this plant like a little humidity. If you live in a dry area, be sure to add a little moisture to your home for this cactus. You can do this by putting the plant on a water-filled saucer.
Where are cactus found in the US?
In the Southwest part of the United States, cacti are abundant. In fact, Arizona’s Saguaro National Park is named for the “ King of the Cactus ,” or the Saguaro cactus. This towering plant can grow over 60 feet tall and has several smaller branches coming off one giant column.
What is a cacti?
The cacti are curious, often thorny (spiny), succulent-stemmed plants constituting the family Cactaceae, characteristic of and well adapted to dry regions of the Western Hemisphere.
What are the different types of cacti?
Cacti vary greatly in size and general appearance, from buttonlike peyote ( Lophophora) and low clump s 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.
What is a chin cactus?
chin cactus. Chin cactus ( Gymnocalycium mihanovichii ). Alfieri—NHPA/Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. The internal structure of cacti stems conforms to the pattern of broad-leaved angiosperms; a cambium layer of dividing cells, located between the woody inner tissues and those near the outside of the stem, is present.
What is the root system of a cactus?
The root systems are generally thin, fibrous, and shallow, ranging widely to absorb superficial moisture. Rose cactus ( Pereskia grandifolia ). 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 ...
Why are spines removed from cactus?
In times of drought, the spines are removed from cacti such as mandacaru ( Cereus jamacaru) to use as fodder for livestock. Peyote, from Lophophora williamsii, has been used ceremonially since pre-Columbian times for its hallucinogenic properties, and many cactus species are of local importance in traditional medicine.
How do cacti reproduce?
Many others can reproduce by fragmentation, whereby segments broken from the main plant will readily root to form clonal individuals. Tissues of cacti are broadly compatible so that terminal portions of one species may be grafted on top of another.
What are the areoles on a cactus?
Areoles are modified branches, from which flowers, more branches, and leaves (when present) may grow. fishhook cactus.
What type of cactus has showy flowers?
The ball-shaped Parodia cactus boasts showy flowers. This type of cactus prefers less light and more water than others.
What is a star cactus?
The star cactus (also called sea urchin cactus or starfish cactus) is a small plant, making it ideal for an indoor succulent garden. A yellow or white bloom is the show-stopper on this petite cactus.
What do the feathers on a cactus look like?
Don't be fooled! The white "feathers" on this cactus look fluffy and soft, but they actually act as camouflage for the sharp spines that cover the surface.
How tall is a fairy castle cactus?
The varied stems resemble the turrets of a castle, making it the perfect addition to any whimsical garden. This slow-growing cactus can reach up to 6 feet in height. Take note that the Fairy Castle Cactus rarely produces flowers—they're often sold with artificial blooms attached. Shop Fairy Castle Cactus.
How long does a saguaro cactus live?
The Saguaro Cactus is native only to the Sonoran Desert and can live for 200 years. Its slow growth rate (about an inch per year for the first eight years of its life) makes it possible to grow indoors.
How tall is a blue columnar cactus?
The fast-growing blue columnar cactus can reach heights of 30 feet tall, and when mature, it boasts funnel-shaped blooms.
What is an old lady cactus?
The old lady cactus, a type of powder puff cactus, is covered with spines and white down, hence its name. This easy-to-grow plant is a great choice for a beginner.
Overview
A cactus (plural cacti, cactuses, or less commonly, cactus) is a member of the plant family Cactaceae, a family comprising about 127 genera with some 1750 known species of the order Caryophyllales. The word cactus derives, through Latin, from the Ancient Greek word κάκτος (káktos), a name originally used by Theophrastus for a spiny plant whose identity is now not certain. Cacti occur i…
Morphology
The 1,500 to 1,800 species of cacti mostly fall into one of two groups of "core cacti": opuntias (subfamily Opuntioideae) and "cactoids" (subfamily Cactoideae). Most members of these two groups are easily recognizable as cacti. They have fleshy succulent stems that are major organs of photosynthesis. They have absent, small, or transient leaves. They have flowers with ovaries that lie below the sepals
Adaptations for water conservation
All cacti have some adaptations to promote efficient water use. Most cacti—opuntias and cactoids—specialize in surviving in hot and dry environments (i.e. are xerophytes), but the first ancestors of modern cacti were already adapted to periods of intermittent drought. A small number of cactus species in the tribes Hylocereeae and Rhipsalideae have become adapted to life as climbers or epiphytes, often in tropical forests, where water conservation is less important.
Taxonomy and classification
Naming and classifying cacti has been both difficult and controversial since the first cacti were discovered for science. The difficulties began with Carl Linnaeus. In 1737, he placed the cacti he knew into two genera, Cactus and Pereskia. However, when he published Species Plantarum in 1753—the starting point for modern botanical nomenclature—he relegated them all to one genus, Cactus. …
Phylogeny and evolution
A 2005 study suggested the genus Pereskia as then circumscribed (Pereskia sensu lato) was basal within the Cactaceae, but confirmed earlier suggestions it was not monophyletic, i.e., did not include all the descendants of a common ancestor. The Bayesian consensus cladogram from this study is shown below with subsequent generic changes added.
Distribution
Cacti inhabit diverse regions, from coastal plains to high mountain areas. With one exception, they are native to the Americas, where their range extends from Patagonia to British Columbia and Alberta in western Canada. A number of centers of diversity exist. For cacti adapted to drought, the three main centers are Mexico and the southwestern United States; the southwestern Andes, where th…
Reproductive ecology
Cactus flowers are pollinated by insects, birds and bats. None are known to be wind-pollinated and self-pollination occurs in only a very few species; for example the flowers of some species of Frailea do not open (cleistogamy). The need to attract pollinators has led to the evolution of pollination syndromes, which are defined as groups of "floral traits, including rewards, associated wit…
Uses
As of March 2012 , there is still controversy as to the precise dates when humans first entered those areas of the New World where cacti are commonly found, and hence when they might first have used them. An archaeological site in Chile has been dated to around 15,000 years ago, suggesting cacti would have been encountered before then. Early evidence of the use of cacti includes cav…