it slows down the loss of water
Cacti store water in their "leaves". Because they naturally grow in areas that don't get a lot of rain, they need to be able to store what little water they get. Their skins are thick, to help them better retain the moisture that they are storing.
Cati have thick skin so their predators cannot get the water out of them so they can survive.
Cactus have thick waxy skin to minimalism moister loss. It hardly ever rains in the dessert so when it does they store the water. So no water escapes they have extra thick skin.
Thick-stemmed cacti store moisture in their cells, which swell when water is available.
A cactus' waxy skin helps it retain moisture in desert climates.
thick and waxy skin, spiky leaves, flexible stem and shallow roots.
structural adaptations
Because the thick waxy bark prevents the loss of moisture so it stops the plant dying of thirst
A waxy coating
Enlarged stems carry out photosynthesis and store water. Unlike many other succulents, the stem is the only part of a true cactus where this takes place. Much like many other plants that have waxy coatings on their leaves, Cacti often have a waxy coating on their stems to prevent water loss. This works by preventing water from spreading on the surface and allowing water to trickle down the stem to be absorbed by the roots and used for photosynthesis. Cacti have a thick, hard-walled, succulent stem - when it rains, water is stored in the stem. The stems are photosynthetic, green, and fleshy. The inside of the stem is either spongy or hollow (depending on the cactus). A thick, waxy coating keeps the water inside the cactus from evaporating.
They live in very hot climates, and so there is a lack of water around.Therefore, they need to retain as much water as possible to help them stay alive.The waxy layer helps reduce water loss from the cacti.
Cactus have a waxy layer on them to prevent water loss and reduce transpiration
In the desert (e.g. cactus plants).
Examples of plants with a waxy cuticles are: the Agave, several types of cacti, and aloe. Basically it is any plant which has a thick waxy skin. The wax aids in the prevention of water loss. and ballsuckers
sunflower, tree, cactus,
The cactus adapted to its harsh environment by developing thick skin to slow the evaporation of water. The leaves changed in order to reduce the surface area that water could evaporate from and over time became defensive spines to protect itself from animals trying to get inside its thick skin for the moisture. The cactus makes its food, by having chlorophyll throughout the rest of plant. That is why the entire cactus is green.