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Cactus Gardening
All cactus plants are succulents, but not all succulents are cactus plants. Being able to tell the difference is one of the concerns in the cactus gardening section. Other questions to be asked and answered include the specifics of a cactus plant's adaptability, environmental impact, growing conditions, harmful stresses, native habitats, propagation methods, and value for people and wildlife.
918 Questions
How cactus protect themselves from enemies?
Its modified leaves are the most obvious defense mechanisms of cactus plants. They take the threatening form of thorns, spines, spikes, quills, prongs, needles, hairs, or bristles. They're particularly threatening when they have barbed ends that quickly become, and stubbornly remain, embedded in the flesh.
Another defense mechanism is sheath that encases the stem. It's thick and covered with a glossy, leathery or waxy surface that stops water loss and disperses sunlight. The cactus thereby is protected against drying out on the inside and burning up on the outside.
Still another defense mechanism are the guard cells. They're found on either side of the openings to the breathing pores, or stomata. They close to keep in water, and open to let in necessary gases from the atmosphere.
How long does a barrel cactus live for?
The lifespan is 50-100 years for Fishook Barrel Cactus. Chamazal National Memorial has some that are over 100 years old.
What are cactus leaves covered in?
No, a cactus has no leaves. Over millions of years the plant has evolved to adapt to its dry environment. The leaves have been turned into stout spines that help protect the plant and all photosynthesis takes place in the stem of the plants.
Do Christmas cactus plants have seeds?
Yes, the Christmas cactus [Schlumbergera spp] has seeds. Their lopsided, trumpet shaped, mostly red flowers grow out of stem ends. They're followed by green or reddish, grapelike fruits if they've been pollinated. The seeds are in the fruit. But if the flowers aren't fertilized, then they aren't followed by fruits or seeds.
What is causing your succulents leaves to shrivel?
Extended drought causes a succulent's leaves to shrivel.
Specifically, a succulent plant wants to expose the least amount of surface area to evaporation. Decreased surface area reduces the amount of water loss. Shriveling up therefore is a way to have a lesser amount of leaf surface available for water loss to take place.
certain types of cactus, like the prickly pear cactus, can actually be eaten by people. (be sure to burn off the spines first, though.) Cactus is edible to many animals, but they usually avoid it because of the spines.
What would happen to a cactus if it didn't have spines?
What happens to a spineless cactus depends upon the kind of cactus and its environment. Going spineless may not be the worse thing that can happen to a cactus. In fact, not all cactus plants have spines. For example, the peyote cactus [Lophophora williamsii] is spineless. Its defense mechanism instead is the powerful hallucinogen mescaline that it contains.
Does the angler fish have a spine?
they have 2 fins, this might not be true but yeah just go check out a picture.
How slow does a saguaro cactus grow per year?
Saguaro are very slow growing cactus. A 10 year old plant might only be 1.5 inches tall. Growth rate depends upon precipitation.
How can you kill prickly pear cacti?
Scrape the pears into a big pile and add dry molasses. You will have created one of the best composts. To prevent them from growing back, improve the soil with humate, compost, molasses and organic fertilizers
(make sure you don't break bits off and leave them lying there - they WILL re-grow)
Where can you find a diagram of a saguaro cactus?
I don't think there is one, but here's all I can say:
-The fruit on the cactus is called a fig.
-In late spring, flowers bloom on the cactus arms.
-The trunk of the saguaro is the stem.
-Inside the cactus, there are tubes that run water through the plant.
-There are spiky needles on the outside.
-Sometimes, the cactus is crested, where the top is in a fan-like shape. Biologists fight over why.
How old are the cactus Cuties now?
Madeline - May 19, 1999 Blaire - February 24, 1997Baylee - May 23, 1994
The Saguaro cactus is found in the Sonoran desert in the south west of continental North America. There are no other places that the plant grows naturally.
For more information please check out the related links below.
How does a spine on a cactus help it to survive?
Cactus needles have a number of functions.
Firstly, because cactus plants live in deserts and semi-arid areas, the needles reduce the loss of moisture that normally occurs through evaporation. As the cactus is a "flowering plant", like all plants in this family it has leaves, but in this case, the leaves are the needles. there is very little surface area on the needles, so less moisture is lost through evaporation.
Because of the shape of the needles, they also help capture whatever moisture is available. Dew and other forms of precipitation will tend to drip from the needles to the soil directly around the roots of a cactus, enabling the roots to utilise as much of the moisture as possible.
Cactus needles also deter plant-eating animals.
What is the saguaro cactus fruit?
The saguaro cactus [Carnegiea gigantea or Cereus giganteus] has a plum like fruit. The fruit is red in color, and edible and flavorful to eat. In fact, the fruit attracts people and wildlife. It doesn't show up until the cactus is at least 40 years old. It's preceded in its appearance by big, creamy white, funnel shaped blooms.
What is the structure of a cactus?
A cactus has adapted by making it's leaves into small spikes so it has a small amount of surface area so that a small amount of water is let out through the leaves.
no, actually a catus has spikes that are its leaves that it uses as its structural adaptation it has its fleshy body that stores water as its physiological adaptation.cactii lives in deserts long due to its great storage of water protective adaptations...
Can you unroot cactus in your yard?
Yes, you can but the question is should you uproot the cactus unless you are doing so to move it to a better place.
How does a barrel cactus grow?
A barrel cactus [Ferocactus spp] grows in response to light. This phenomenon is called phototropism. The sunlight to which the barrel cactus is exposed are the bright, hot rays of the southwestern American desert. So the cactus grows in response to light, but with a pronounced southwards lean. This is to prevent sunburn.
How much does a saguaro cactus grow per year?
The Saguaro (Carnegiea gigantea) is considered mature at 100-125 years old. Older specimens may attain ages of 200 years or more
What is a structural adaptation of prickly pear cactus?
thick and waxy skin, spiky leaves, flexible stem and shallow roots.
A cactus provides ways to diffuse long hours of harsh sun by pulling light into the stem for the photosynthetic interaction with water and dissolved nutrients. It provides vegetation in a plant and ground cover poor environment. It provides support for soil to hold together against erosion, through its roots. It provides storage for water in a moisture and rainfall scarce world. It provides shelter for wildlife. It provides shade to the ground below, to lessen evaporation of surface and underground moisture. It provides materials for making buildings, drinks and food, and tools. It provides employment for pollinators.
What owl has a cactus inhabitant?
Elf Owls live in saguaro cactus. Pygmy Owls also nest in saguaro and organ pipe cacti.
