It is an adaptation and a form of leaves, except that they are spines. It is either for protection from animals sucking its internal "juice", or it is for preventing dessication (drying out).
Hoodia is a succulent plant that resembles a cactus. It has thick stems and spiny edges, with fleshy leaves and produces large, star-shaped flowers. The most well-known species, Hoodia gordonii, is a popular ingredient in weight loss supplements.
Plants with wide spreading roots and spiny leaves are commonly found in arid ecosystems such as deserts or dry grasslands. These characteristics help the plants to efficiently collect water and reduce water loss through transpiration, allowing them to survive in environments with limited water availability. The spiny leaves also serve as a defense mechanism against herbivores.
A cactus that stores water in its stem is called a stem succulent. The stem has tissues that are capable storing large quantities of water. The stem also has a thick waterproof epidermis covered by a waxy cuticle that prevents loss of water due by evaporation. Examples of stem succulents - Cardon Cactus, Organ Pipe Cactus, Saguaro Cactus
The amaryllis plant produces flowers without any leaves present on its stem. The flowers grow first, followed by the long, slender leaves that emerge after the flowering is complete.
A buckeye tree is a medium-sized deciduous tree with a rounded crown. It has compound leaves with five to seven leaflets, and produces smooth, light brown nuts that are encased in a spiny husk. In the fall, the leaves turn yellow or bronze before dropping.
a cactus has spiny leaves for protection and so the water wont evaporate so easily.
Acanthus and cactus but cactus not really leafy :)
The cactus has spiny leaves so the water that it retains can't evaporate so easily, and for protection.The cactus has spiny leaves so the water that it retains can't evaporate so easily, and for protection.
Cactus
Firecracker Cactus is a cacti species. It is a spiny plant.
No, there are some species that have no spines.
Cactus wrens usually nest in the cholla cactus. This very spiny cactus provides protection for their eggs and young from predators such as snakes.
One option is a cactus.
Leaves have evolved into spines on the cactus.
The Golden Barrel Cactus or Biznaga (Echinocactus).
A cactus draws nutrients and water through the roots. Water is stored in special cells that swell when filled with water. The skin is covered in a waxy film to prevent loss of water by evaporation.
the leaves of a cactus help get the suns nutrition foe the plant to grow None pretty much and formally proper cactus have no leaves only it's convergently evolved cousins do.