What is a cactus looks like?

Answer 1

The prickly pear cactus genus [Opuntia spp] numbers over 360 species. There's no such thing as a uniform description for or look to the genus' members. For example, their common names may range from prickly pear, to Indian fig, to cholla, to bunny ears. Their heights may range from a couple of inches or centimeters to nearly 20 feet/6 meters tall. Their shapes may resemble a series of fleshy pads that look like Badminton rackets, as in the case of Opuntia lindheimeri. Or they may have branching stems, as is the case with Opuntia tunicata. Their weapons against predators may take the form of barbed spines, or bristled tufts.

But what they all share is their love for the sun's heat and light, their comfort as the dominant vegetation of their niches, and their aversionto overwatering or waterlogging. Additionally, they share a budding into vivid spring, summer and fall flowers. They also share an appearance after blossoming of green, purple or red fruits. The fruits have seeds, but they may or may not have edible or flavorful tastes.

Answer 2

The look of a cactus landscape depends upon the particular cactus in question. Cactus plants are native to deserts and to jungles. A desert environment is high on heat and light, and low on moisture and vegetative competition. In contrast, a jungle environment is low on light; and high on heat, moisture, and vegetative competition.

Answer 3

There's no such thing as a uniform look to old cactus plants. For example, the epiphytic rat's tail cactus [Aporocactusspp] becomes discolored around the base with age. The giant saguaro cactus [Carnegiea gigantea] has a number of branching arms by the time it reaches old age. The old man cactus [Cephalocereus and Oreocephalus spp] becomes encased in a downy white beard of long, silky white spines. The Chilean cactus [Copiapoa spp] changes markedly from a ground hugging globular look to a columnar look that's enhanced by baby offsets at its base. The jumping cactus [Cylindropuntia fulgida] loses its ferocious spines. The golden spines on the golden column cactus [Weberbauerocereus johnsonii] darken.

Answer 4

The look of a cactus flowers depends upon the cactus. Indeed, there are many different possibilities for how a cactus' flowers look. For example, the blossoms may be brightly colored, day flowering, and unscented. Such desert blooms tend to be pollinated by flying insects. Or the blossoms may be fleshy, foul smelling night bloomers that are pollinated by bats. Or they may be palely colored and richly perfumed, large night bloomers. Such jungle blooms tend to be pollinated by moths. Or blossoms may be vividly colored tubular shapes that are pollinated by hummingbirds.

Answer 5

If you click on the related links section (cactus), located below this answer box, it will take you to pictures of a variety of cactus.