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Cactus leaves are modified, because they're characterized by smaller surface areas. Those cactus plants that have modified leaves have them as thorns, spines, spikes, quills, prongs or bristles. So the cactus leaf has a narrower, thinner look than the leaves of deciduous plants.
The reason for this modified look is the effort to keep water loss to a minimum. Water is lost at a lower rate and in smaller quantities over a smaller surface area. Additionally, the narrower, thinner look helps the modified leaf to direct any available moisture on its surface to drip to the ground. On the ground, the drops seep into the soil, where they can be taken up by the cactus plant's network of fibrous, shallow roots.
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∙ 14y ago
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∙ 12y agoby becoming spines (spikes) to stop animals eating tthem! :-)
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∙ 14y agoCactuses are designed in all parts to retain water, since they've adapted to dry climates.
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∙ 10y agoYes, it is both. The green fleshy parts are modified stems which store water. The spines are modified leaves.
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∙ 11y agoleaves
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∙ 9y agoSpines
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Which plant has flowers but no real leaves?
A Cactus - it has a modified stem which produces flowers, but no leaves.
Does a cactus have leaves?
No. Some may be considered as leaves but not really. Christmas cactus for instance grows in thin segmented stalks reminiscent of leaves. Cactus flowers have petal that are leafy and green like leaves but not really leaves. barrel cactus and saquaros obviously have no leafy protrusions beyond their flowers.
Why cactus make food in stem?
Because it has no true leaves, the only part of a typical cactus that can produce food via photosynthesis is the stem. Through evolution, the leaves have become modified and not form the spines of the cactus, loosing their ability to photosynthesise
Various types of modified leaves?
The cactus modified leaves to sreate its spines, which are used for protection and storage of water. Carniverous plants have the "mouths," which are modified to help the plant obtain its needed nitrogen. Coniferous trees created needles instead of leaves. These needles are used for water storage and photosynthesis, and they have a very thick cuticle.
Why leaves are absent in cactus?
To protect it from predators in the desert.(: and to reduce the rate of transpiration. In many cases the thorn are formed by the modification of shoot , Thus eliminating the leaves hence the free surface to minimize the transpiration.)
Can you eat a cactus?
Yes, many of the fruits can be eaten fresh. For example, the yellow fruit of the prickly pear [Opuntia spp] has the sweetest flavor of the cactus fruit's color range. It's eaten fresh. Additionally, other body parts also can be eaten. For example, the prickly pear cactus' jointed pads may be peeled and boiled, to make Mexico's popular nopalitos. In the way of another example, the flesh of the candy barrel cactus [Ferocactus wislizeni] may be made up into sugary candies. But whatever the cactus or the cactus body part, it's important to remove the plant's modified leaves. The modified leaves take the shape of thorns, spines, spikes, quills, prongs, needles, hairs, or bristles. Even the smallest, shortest, or finest of these modified leaves and modified leaf parts can be irritating if not downright painful to bite into, chew, and swallow.
What is an Example of modified angiosperm?
what is a modified version of an angiosperm other then a California barrel cactus what is a modified version of an angiosperm other then a California barrel cactus
How have leaves of a cactus adapt to the desert?
Leaves have evolved into spines on the cactus.
What do thorns do?
Cactus spines prevent moisture loss from plants. Spines also defend the plants from grazing animals. The spines are just modified leaves.
How do plants hold water?
Cactus plants hold water temporarily in their roots. They also hold it temporarily on their modified leaves. They hold it permanently in their stems.
Can a cactus kill a animal?
Yes, cactus plants can kill animals/ One way that they can do so is by the way in which they grab the available moisture from a desert environment. Their modified leaves channel any available moisture -be it dew, fog, or rainfall - to the ground, to be added to the water table or taken in by the roots. A cactus is used to dominating the desert landscape. So it's used to sharing the sunlight and to not sharing the water.Additionally, a cactus plant fruits, flowers, and seeds. But the buds, blooms, and berries are surrounded by a defensive array of modified leaves in the form of thorns, spines, spikes, quills, prongs, needles, hairs, or bristles. A cactus' defense mechanisms can do damage, particularly if the modified leaves are barbed.As a consequence, an animal can be left without drink or food in an environment where the pickings are few and far between.
How do cacti survive?
A cactus has a fleshy stem and has no leaves. Leaves are the parts of any plant which plays a role in transpiration, i.e., leaves transpire. The excess water is therefore lost to the environment from the leaves. In a cactus, the leaves are modified into thorns. So, there is no such transpiration. There is loss of excess water. Water is therefore retained which can be used by the plant any time. Thus, the extremely hot climate doesn't affect it.
