What are the features of the structure and physiology of a cactus. How is a cactus arranged? Where do cacti grow

Cacti are a kind of thorny plants that have adapted to life in arid deserts, on the infertile plateaus of southern countries, belonging to the vast cactus family. They grow well on the sands of deserts and semi-deserts, on rocky plateaus between rock crevices heated by the scorching rays of the sun. Under such conditions, these plants have adapted to store moisture in the stem during the rainy season for dry periods. Cacti, with a few exceptions, do not have leaves, and their function is performed by a thickened green stem, which has the most diverse shape: cylindrical, columnar, spherical, trihedral, etc. Cactus stems are smooth, ribbed, tuberculate, wrinkled with papillae or notches; they are covered on the outside with a hard cuticle with a waxy coating.

The leaves of cacti are modified into spines, bristles and hairs of various shapes, lengths (up to 12 cm) and colors. They come out of felt-pubescent pads. Only leaf-bearing cactus (Peyrescia) has leaves somewhat reminiscent of citrus leaves. Hairs, bristles and thorns serve in the homeland to protect against animals, and are also a device for animals to carry thorny fruits, "babies" and reduce moisture evaporation.

On the original, bizarre, and sometimes very small cacti, beautiful, large flowers appear, various in shape and color. The flowers of cacti are bisexual, funnel-shaped, tubular, more sessile. Some plants only bloom at night. There are very fragrant flowers.

Many of the cacti in their homeland produce edible fruits. Others go to feed livestock (thornless prickly pear), form hedges from candle-shaped cacti (cereus), and their trunks go to small buildings and for fuel.

Dwarf species of cacti are bred in the rooms, which take up little space. On one windowsill, you can grow several dozen of them. Large collections of them are in the botanical gardens, as well as many amateurs.

Materials used:

• indoor floriculture- D. F. Yukhimchuk.

Let's figure out what the name means and to which family this plant belongs. The cactus got its name because of its characteristic spines.: from other Greek. κάκτος means "thorny plant".

The family of dicotyledonous plants Cactus (lat. Cactaceae) belongs to the order Clove. The family includes 150 genera, and the number exceeds 3000. Further, a comparative description of succulents and cacti.

Representatives of the Cactus are perennial succulents with thick, fleshy, almost completely ribbed stems. Succulents (which in Latin means succulentus - succulent) are perennial plants of dry places, which store water reserves in leaves or stems (cacti - in English Cactus). However, it should be understood that cacti and succulents are far from the same thing.

Succulents store water in the fleshy leaves, which the cactus does not have, the stem and roots. Succulents are not a family or a group, but rather plants united by a common property - the ability to retain moisture inside. Simply put, succulents are a broader concept.

Cacti are flowering plants. It would be a mistake to call it a flower, because a flower is an organ of a plant. However, many types of cactus bloom. The plant has a great variety of unusual properties and signs. For example, the unique pigment of a flower, a wide variety of shapes and sizes of stems - from tiny two-centimeter balls to tall plants several meters high.

A distinctive feature of cacti is a special organ of the areola, which is a modified axillary bud with kidney scales in the form of hairs or spines.

Cacti have the original structure of the flower and fruit: they are the tissue of the stem. The flowers and fruits of the plant almost always have buds, and they, in turn, belong to the stem, which is responsible for photosynthesis. The flowers themselves are often solitary, sometimes collected in a racemose inflorescence, located on the cephalia - a special ledge.

Cacti are not just green stems strewn with . They have quite interesting blooms. The sepals blend into the petals, which come in white, yellow, pink, purple, red, and multi-colored. The flowers are very small, and sometimes their diameter reaches 20 cm.

The fruits are berry-like, bright, with many small seeds. Many cacti are edible.

flower photo

Here you can see all the photos of the most beautiful cacti (cactus), in a pot and outdoor:

law of growth

Cacti are indeed very unpretentious and beautiful plants., but their significant drawback is slow growth. Although it is believed that cacti like dry soil and do not need frequent watering, they grow best when it rains when it comes to wild plants. In addition to the level of humidity, sunlight is also important for them. Therefore, cacti begin to grow actively in the spring.

It is easy to determine the beginning of this phase, because in many plant species it manifests itself externally. For example, in some, the tops of the spines become brighter, there are more spines, the skin of the upper part of the stem acquires a different, more saturated shade.

The vegetative period is characterized by a temporary slowdown or cessation of growth. The fact is that flowering takes a lot of energy, so the plant simply does not have “strength” left for growth.

In winter, the cactus has a dormant cycle. and they need the most nutrients. In spring, the plant begins to bloom, it needs more moisture, fertilizer, a lot of light and heat. Flowering continues in summer.

More details about how cacti grow are described.

How to determine age?

It is impossible to determine the age of the cactus visually. There are only two options to find out: track it from the moment of sowing or ask the one who grew it. The age of a cactus is calculated by dormant periods. If, for example, a cactus grows for three years in the same conditions - from humidity to lighting, then all three years is one year of the life of a cactus. If in 5 years the cactus had one dormant period, then it means that it is not 5 years old, but only the second year (and read about how many cacti live at home and in nature).

How much a cactus grows depends, first of all, on the species. Some species can, with a properly selected pot, reach several meters in height. But in any case, it is easier for wild cacti to reach their maximum height than domestic ones. The famous "Queen of the Night" can reach 20 m in height.

History of origin: where is his homeland and how does it grow in nature?

Now about where the homeland of cacti is located. The first mention of cacti is found in Spanish newspapers in 1535. Then they started growing them. Cacti first came to Europe after the expedition of Columbus to America. In the 1830s, in his works, Carl Linnaeus described 22 plant species, which he named Cactus. In this century there were many descriptions and information about cacti, a fashion arose for the cultivation of these plants. Their country of origin is considered to be South and North America. Where else do cacti live, we will tell further.

Cacti are distributed mainly on this continent, including in deserts. In addition, representatives of some species grow in Africa, Mauritius and Madagascar, are found in Australia, India, and the Mediterranean countries. In general, cacti live on all continents except Antarctica.

How does it adapt to its environment?

Now about why the cactus grows thorns instead of leaves. For nature, cacti have been awarded with special grooves, through which water accumulates to the roots and accumulates in them. The spherical shape promotes small evaporation of moisture. The formation of cracks is prevented by the ribs on the stem.

Thick skin protects the plant from heat, and thorns and villi create a protective shadow. In addition, the spines have the unique ability to attract water drops electrostatically, as well as protect the plant from hungry animals and promote pollination. The cactus does not have leaves, so as not to waste precious moisture.

Can you keep it at home?

Cacti have long been learned to grow and keep at home in a room. Houseplants are not poisonous at all. The maximum they can annoy you with is to prick with their thorns (find out how not to prick yourself with a cactus and what to do if this happens).

Benefits and calorie information

Cactus fruits are widely used in cooking because they have useful properties (learn more about fruits and their uses). They have a low calorie content - only 41 kcal per 100 grams. Edible fruits contain a large amount of carbohydrates (5.97 g), fats (0.51 g) and proteins (0.73 g). Cacti help fight hypertension, diabetes, lower cholesterol.

Find out more about the benefits and harms of a cactus for humans at.

What can be cooked?

All parts of the plant are edible except for the thorns.. Juices are made from cacti that quench thirst well, sugar substitute syrups that can be consumed by diabetics.

Dishes from cactus fruits

The fruits are consumed not only in their raw form, but also jams, conserves, marmalade and even seasonings are prepared from them. The fruits of some species have not only a pleasant taste, but also healing properties. Cactus stalks are also eaten: they can be pickled, fried, boiled, baked, stewed, made into a salad.

Beverages

Not only healthy refreshing juice is made from cacti, but also alcohol. The "king" of this direction is prickly pear, which is widespread in Mexico. The most famous cactus drink is Baitra liqueur, which is produced in Malta.

Not so long ago Czechs learned how to make diet beer from a cactus, which has not yet achieved recognition worldwide, but is popular in Europe. From cacti, Mexicans make a strong alcoholic drink "Sahuaro", which is used not only in its pure form, but also in cocktails, and also goes well with martinis.

Features of care

A cactus at home needs a sufficient amount of light, so it is better to place the pots on a south or east window. But only if we are talking about desert species! Forest cacti, on the contrary, prefer western and northern windows.

In summer, the cactus is best placed on the balcony to provide more fresh air. In winter, they need a cool place (15-17 degrees) and shade. Contrary to popular belief, the cactus needs abundant watering. To do this, it is better to use water at room temperature, and ideally - rain or melt water.

reproduction

At home, a cactus in the following ways:

• Children (sprouts).
• cuttings.
• Seeds.
• Inoculation.

The first two methods are the easiest.

babes

1. Children (1.5-2 cm) are detached from the mother plant.
2. Children are fixed on a glass of water at a distance of 5-7 mm from the water to the cactus.
3. As water evaporates, it is added. It is better to maintain a temperature of 25-30 degrees.
4. After the formation of roots, the children sit down. Around the cactus, you can sprinkle virmiculite, zeolite, coarse sand or small stones.

cuttings

1. Healthy and strong parts of the cactus are selected.
2. The upper part of the cactus is cut off, sharpened, dried for about 7 days and rooted in the ground.
3. For better rooting, the lower part of the cut cactus is placed in a warm solution of Kornevin (1 tsp per 0.5 l of water) for several hours. Then it is dried for 2-3 days and planted in the ground.

seeds

Rarely successful. On some of the sprouts that appear, a fungus appears, others lose roots, dry or rot.

Bloom my star!

Cacti may not bloom at all if there are no suitable conditions for this. Some species begin to bloom as early as the age of three, some will need as much as 10 years for this. usually begins in the spring, after a dormant period. It is quite difficult to achieve flowering of a plant, and suitable conditions for them are not always enough.

It is necessary to alternate the life stages that are observed in the natural conditions of cactus growth. Therefore, if you want a cactus to bloom, you need to choose one of two ways: either make every effort for the desired result, or choose unpretentious species.

Diseases

Diseases of cacti are most often caused by bacteria, lower fungi, mycoplasmas, and viruses. Their impact can lead to the death of the plant, and rare and valuable species are most often targeted by enemies. To avoid infection of cacti, again, favorable living conditions will help.

Among the diseases of cactus, the most common are:

• spotting;
• viral mosaic of epiphyllums;
• euphorbium mosaic virus;
• jaundice;
• witch brooms prickly pear;
• dry and wet rot;
• mushroom growth and others.

You can learn about diseases and pests of cacti.

Cacti, like any plant, require careful, care and special conditions. Home flowers sometimes need to be taken care of like their own children, because it is the owner’s attitude towards plants that determines health, beauty and their normal development.

Cactus is an unusual plant that differs from others in the absence of leaves and the presence of thorns. Photosynthesis occurs with the help of the green pillar of which it is composed. The fact that this plant does not look like more than one leafy plant became interested in biologists and navigators who often visited America.

The shapes and sizes of cacti are very diverse, they are both high and low, both thin and thick, both round and oval. In the wild, cacti are large and branched, they grow strongly. But at home, they are small in size, and always well-groomed, and usually such plants do not have branches, they can appear in a few decades.

The thorns of a cactus perform an important function, as this plant has a poorly developed root system, the cactus can take moisture only with the help of thorns. So, the main function of thorns is to absorb moisture. The spines also perform a protective function, they protect the plant from sunlight and temperature changes, especially when it gets dark and colder.

A small cactus should not feel a lack of water, so you need to look at the ground, if the ground is dry, then it's time to water it. An adult cactus needs to be watered about four times a month in summer, but in winter it does not need watering at all, and if watering is necessary, then no more than twice a month.

When watering your plant, you should pay attention to its location, if the pot is on the sunny side, then you need to water it often, and if it is in the shade, then you need to water it less often.

Ordinary tap water for watering a prickly friend will not work, because it is cold and rich in chlorine, which can have a detrimental effect on the plant. It is recommended to boil 5 liters. water and add 9% vinegar there, this is a good top dressing for a cactus.

In the desert, cacti are a real salvation for people, because they quench thirst and hunger, besides, this plant is useful to eat. By the way, they make candied fruits from cacti, make jam, make wines, liquors and the well-known tequila.

Cactus is a unique plant that won the hearts of not only scientists, but also ordinary people, because this plant is not only beautiful in appearance, it has a lot of benefits and is used in the food industry.

Option 2

Cactus is a perennial flowering plant belonging to the Carnation group. Plants evolved about 30 million years ago, at which time it acquired its familiar form. The habitat of cacti is the countries of the New World. They are widely distributed in North and South America, as well as in the West Indies. They are found in Africa, on the island of Madagascar and in Sri Lanka, where they were brought by migratory birds. Since the cactus is a very unpretentious plant, today it can be found on all continents in botanical gardens or in private collections of indoor plant lovers.

In Greek culture, the word "kaktos" denoted plant species unknown to scientists. Later, Carl Liney began to use this word to classify cacti.

Plants of the cactus family come in different shapes (from spherical to cone-shaped and elongated). They grow in desert areas. The root system of a cactus consists of two parts: surface roots and roots that go deep into the ground. The climatic conditions of the deserts form large temperature differences, due to which moisture falls in the form of dew. Surface roots, whose length reaches 5 meters, collect this moisture, allowing the plant to do without watering and rain for a long time.

The second type of roots keeps massive cacti above the ground. Such a root has an impressive size, so even during hurricanes, plants do not suffer from gusty winds. However, it does not reach groundwater and therefore serves mainly only as an "anchor".

The stem of a cactus is able to store water. It can be ribbed or smooth. On its surface, depending on the type of cactus, bristles, spines or leaves are formed. They are modified bud scales of stem tissue. Large cactus flower has a pleasant aroma. It contains areoles in the form of spines and hairs.

Since ancient times, people have used the fruits and stem of the cactus as food. Used as a medical preparation. It also serves as a building material and a hedge. Dwarf species of cactus are grown in homes as an ornamental plant.

Message 3

Planet Earth is known for a variety of plants, which have their own characteristics and unusual. One of the most popular and unusual flowering plants is the cactus family. Scientists - botanists are trying to determine the time of formation of cacti, although no fossil remains have been found, but presumably they have been growing on earth for 30 million years ago.

The etymology of the word is known only by the fact that in the ancient Greek language another plant was called that, which is now unknown to science. Since 1771, cacti have been used to designate green plants, the surface of which is covered with thorns. Even earlier they were called melocactus, and then they simply shortened this name.

The origin of cacti comes from South and part of North America. Migratory birds brought cactus seeds to Africa and Asia. Later, people began to spread the plant around the world. Now the cactus tends to sprout in any part of the world except Antarctica. Undoubtedly, the cactus prefers warm places, because its homeland is the desert, where there is a minimum of moisture and a maximum of sun. In Russia, cacti are found in the south, in the Crimea and the region of the city of Gelendzhik.

Not all cacti are similar in structure and are closely related. The main cactus family has a special organ - the halo. She resembles a kidney. The fruit and flower of the cactus is part of the stem, which is not typical of other plants. Areoles look like thorns and hairs, they are also called kidneys, as they collect moisture from space and are able to store it inside for a long time to save life. In this case, the fetus does not have needles.

All cacti differ from each other in shape and height. It depends on the location. For example, there are cacti that grow in our forests, and there are those that are adapted to drought - such cacti can grow up to 4 meters. Their weight can be several tons, depending on the amount of moisture contained in it.

Botanists divide all cacti into 4 groups: pereskian - a cactus close to deciduous plants. He also became the starting point in the development of other types of cactus.

Prickly pear - cacti with pronounced large leaves.

Mauhienivye - a species widespread in Patagonia with no spines.

Cactus - distinguished by the complete absence of leaves, the plant itself is round in shape.

In any case, any person can distinguish a cactus from any other plant, thanks to its distinctive features.

Report about Cactus

One of the plants that live in arid places is the cactus. This is a thorny plant belonging to the cactus family. Unpretentious in care, germinate on the sands of deserts, semi-deserts and rocky plateaus. The spines located throughout the plant are modified leaves. They come in various lengths and shapes. With the help of them, plants manage to stay for a long time without water under the scorching sun. They store moisture in themselves and give it away for a very long time, since the stomata that were located on the leaves have become smaller due to a change in shape into spines. They also serve to protect against animals.

The stem of a cactus can have a different shape: columnar, spherical, cylindrical and others.

The use of cacti is quite wide and varied. Some, when flowering, produce edible fruits for humans, and some go to feed livestock. Large cacti are sometimes used as hedges, some trunks are used for construction.

For many years, cacti have been used as houseplants. After all, they are not whimsical in care. On some cacti, flowers of various shapes and colors sprout. Cacti were brought to Europe from America. They attracted people with their unusual appearance. Many people collect entire collections of decorative cacti at home on the windowsill. Entire greenhouses are created with various types of cacti.

As mentioned earlier, cacti are unpretentious in their care. The temperature at which they can live depends entirely on the light. The more light a plant receives, the more heat it needs. This explains the fact that cacti can sprout in deserts. Accordingly, if the plant receives little light, then it will require less heat. Therefore, at night, the temperature in the room should not exceed 18 degrees Celsius. Although cacti are adapted to life in arid places and can be without moisture for a long time, nevertheless, like any living creature, a cactus needs water. From which he will receive all the substances necessary for existence. The amount of water depends on the vital activity of the cactus. During the period of activity, the cactus needs a sufficient amount of water so that the substrate under it does not dry out. During dormancy, reduce watering to a minimum. In summer, watering is once every 1-3 weeks. Watering should be done after the soil is completely dry. In autumn and winter, a houseplant is watered with one tablespoon of water every 8-10 days. Plants can also get moisture from the air with the help of thorns.

Message 5 option

Cactus is a plant that lives mainly in tropical climates. Differs in the presence of thorns and the absence of leaves. Most cacti do not look so much like the plants we are used to that sometimes we are even surprised to see something in front of us that looks more like an alien creature. It is worth saying that cacti are in many ways similar to ordinary plants. They have the same organs as everyone else.

There is an opinion that almost all cacti grow in deserts. But this is not entirely true. Cacti grow extremely slowly, and as soon as they appear on the surface, they would immediately be covered with sand. But deserts are different, with different annual precipitation and temperatures. There is no place on earth where only cacti would grow. If we see a cactus somewhere, it means that many other plants can be found nearby. Most cacti grow in semi-deserts, tropics and steppes.

Growing a cactus at home is quite simple. If they can grow in the desert, then a flower pot for them will seem like paradise at all. However, it should be understood that the cactus also needs proper care. Yes, cacti can live for a long time without water, especially in winter, but still, sometimes they need to be watered. Cacti should be placed on windowsills or on a balcony. Many people put a cactus next to the computer, thinking that this plant will help them get rid of some harmful radiation. But this is not true.

The cactus can also be used for medicinal purposes. Cactus juice has an antibacterial effect, it also helps with rheumatism. According to many scientists, cactus can be used to treat headaches, stomach problems, and pieces of cactus can also be applied to a wound for speedy healing. An ordinary plant, but so many benefits! Cacti can be completely different. Their stems are both round and elongated, ribbed, etc. Not all cacti can have thorns; there are also absolutely “naked” representatives. If you got exactly a cactus with thorns, then you need to be very careful with it. After all, one wrong move, and a thorn is already sticking out of your finger, which will be very painful to get back.

If the owner of the cactus is lucky, then he can observe a beautiful flowering. Flowers can be completely different sizes, but they will certainly be beautiful and with eye-catching shades. Different cacti bloom at different times. Some can bloom almost every month, while others have to wait for years.

If you are going to start a cactus at home, then you should understand that they rarely get along with other houseplants. It's a matter of content. For example, a large number of plants require special humidity, while this will only bring harm and suffering to a cactus.

Also, do not water cacti with ordinary tap water. Such water is usually hard, due to which a large amount of salt accumulates at the base of the stems, which harms the plant. In order for the cactus to feel good and please its owner for many years, it should be watered with rain or melt water. The soil should also be used special, which can be purchased at garden stores.

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A cactus is a perennial flowering plant that belongs to the dicotyledonous class, the clove order, the cactus family (lat. Cactaceae).

The first documentary mentions of Europeans about cacti date back to the 16th century. The botanist F. Hernandez in 1535 sketched the prickly pear cactus in his book entitled "History of the Plants of New Spain". Exotic plants brought from America (the first of which were melocactus, prickly pear and cereus) became famous and quickly won the hearts of flora lovers. At the beginning of the 18th century, merchants actively traded in cacti. In 1737, the Swedish naturalist and taxonomist K. Linnaeus combined the 24 species of cacti known to him at that time into one genus and named it Cactus. Prior to this, the plant had the name "Spanish prickly artichoke". The word "cactus" of Greek origin, the inhabitants of the Balkan Peninsula called this a prickly plant - which no one remembers.

Cactus - description, structure and photos. What does a cactus look like?

Cacti are plants with a tap root system, which consists of a main root and lateral branches extending from it. It is powerful, adapted to extracting moisture from both deep and surface layers of the soil. For example, the root system of twisted melocactus (lat. Melocactus intortus) reaches 7 meters in length. At the same time, even in young cacti, lateral roots grow in abundance on the main root, which are located at a depth of only 5-7 cm. They help to quickly collect moisture during morning dew and rare rains.

The roots of many cacti thicken greatly and store nutrients or water. For example, in turnip neoporteria (lat. Neoporteria aspillagae), the main root has a diameter of 60 cm and a mass of 50 kg.

Some plants develop adventitious (aerial) roots. It happens:

• in epiphytic species (ripsalis, epiphyllum, etc.). Thanks to aerial roots, cacti attach themselves to tree trunks and absorb water from the air.
• in children (young shoots) of some non-epiphytic species (gymnocalyciums, echinopsis, mammillaria).

Perennial cactus stems (except Chaffee prickly pear (lat. Opuntia chaffeyi)), fleshy, juicy, usually without leaves, covered with hairs, spines, or both at the same time.

Only some cacti (for example, from the subfamily Peresciaceae) have woody stems and normally developed wide leaves.

Tree-like trunk of pereskia large-leaved. Photo by: Frank Vincentz, CC BY-SA 3.0

The aerial part of many cacti is covered with a strong, waxy cuticle (cuticle). It acts like vacuum packaging, reliably protecting the plant from moisture evaporation. The cuticle layer under the action of sunlight can acquire different shades. The surface of many cacti is also equipped with hollow outgrowths of the epidermis of the skin - bundles of capillary villi. Outwardly, they look like fine fluff and are able to collect moisture directly from the air, more often during the morning fog. In some species, spines can also collect water from the atmosphere.

The stems of cacti are ribbed, together with hairs and thorns, they create partial shade, which is why the plant heats up less and evaporates moisture.

Cactus San Pedro (lat. Echinopsis pachanoi). Photo credits: Forest & Kim Starr, CC BY 3.0

Cactus stems contain the green pigment chlorophyll in varying amounts. But their color depends not only on the internal content of the cells. The stems are light or dark green, bluish green, blue-green, grayish, yellow-gray, gray-green, gray-brown, light gray, brown, grassy green. Less common are cacti with purple, variegated, and even red stems.

Nevertheless, it is necessary to distinguish artificially bred colored cacti from normal cacti with a color of the epidermis other than green. In nature, you can observe green, gray, red-violet, brown, light gray, bluish and even almost black stems of cacti. In some cases, this is ensured by the presence of pigment cells with flavonoids, in others - by a powerful wax-like cuticle that protects plants from a certain spectrum of radiation. The cells of such plants also contain chlorophyll.

Multi-colored cacti are often called chlorophyll-free, but this is incorrect. They just have very little chlorophyll. In the special literature, low-chlorophyll cacti are called variegated, red-stemmed or variegated-colored. Chlorophyll-free cacti are nothing but a mutation, and these beautiful plants on the outside are doomed to live for a very short time if they are not grafted in time.

Currently, colored forms of cacti are artificially bred using gene mutations. For example, red hymnocalyciums were bred in this way.

Depending on where the cacti grow, they also differ in structure.

In species growing in arid places, the leaves are reduced, and the functions of photosynthesis are transferred to a fleshy juicy stem. Epiphytic species of moist forests have turned their stem into a flat, small leaf-like plate. These species include plants from the ripsalis family (lat. Rhipsalis): Barchela ripsalis (lat. Rhipsalis burchellii), rolled ripsalis (lat. Rhipsalis teres) and others.

Not all cacti have thorns, but most of the members of the family consist of stems covered with needles, devoid of leaves: in this way, plants adapt to arid living conditions. The spines of cacti are not modified, but underdeveloped leaves, or rather, kidney scales of areoles.

By the way, the areola is a modified lateral bud in plants from the cactus family. It is like a pillow that surrounds the place where the thorns grow.

Areola of Echinocactus Gruzoni (lat. Echinocactus grusonii). Photo by: Frank Vincentz, CC BY-SA 3.0

In some types of cacti, 2 types of needles are distinguished according to their location:

• Spines in the center of the areoles(can reach 25 cm in length).

For example, the central spines of mammillaria are large and durable.

• Spines along the edges of the areoles.

Peripheral needles are softer, smaller and more numerous.

To determine the type of cactus, systematics provides information on the number of spines of one areola. To determine belonging to a species, the shape, color and number of underdeveloped leaves are also used.

According to the shape of the spines of cacti, they can be bristle-shaped, hair-like, conical, pinnate, needle-shaped, flattened, hook-shaped, spike-shaped, glochid-like (with notches) and others. The radial spines of cacti are most often yellowish or grey. The needles located centrally in the areoles are colored more brightly - in white, red, red-brown tones.

Cacti are able to store a huge amount of moisture. For example, columnar and globular desert species contain up to 2600-3000 liters of water. Due to this, they can do without additional moisture for about a year. Many cacti are able to store water not only in the stems, but also in tuberous or turnip-like roots.

The water in their tissues also serves to preserve the plant from temperature extremes. In deserts, the air cools sharply at night, and the water gives off heat very slowly. Therefore, moisture-filled cacti cool down much more slowly than their environment. Large varieties can withstand even short frosts. But the bulk of cacti are very sensitive to lower temperatures and are damaged when it is positive, approaching zero.

Myrtillocactus geometric in section. Photo by: Christer Johansson, CC BY-SA 2.5

Cacti, like other succulents, contain a special kind of vitreous water-storing tissues in the stem. Water evaporates from them very slowly due to the cuticle, the mucus produced by the cells, the special location and way the stomata work. The few stomata of cacti are located deep in the hypodermis and open only at night, when air humidity rises and evaporation is very low. At this time, carbon dioxide necessary for photosynthesis passes through them into the cells, which is stored in the tissues, turning into malic acid. Therefore, at night, cactus juice tastes sour. Only during the day, in the presence of sunlight, this substance will be included in the composition of glucose synthesized in the chloroplasts of the plant.

The seeds of most types of cacti are covered with a thin skin and germinate in 2-10 days. Cacti grow extremely slowly, on average growing by 2-3 cm per year.

How does a cactus bloom?

In some cacti, at the top, less often on the side of the stem, a bristly formation appears - cephalium ("head"), from which flowers grow. Such a phenomenon can often be seen in plants from the genus Melocactus (melon cactus) (lat. Melocactus).

By the way, in addition to the crown and lateral, succulents can develop ring cephaly. It is formed by the growth of the lateral cephalium or by the germination of the stem through the crown of the cephalium.

Fruits, seeds, flowers and seedlings of cacti have a common type of structure. The flowers are usually solitary, bisexual (that is, they have both stamens and pistils), sessile, equipped with a smooth, spiny or pubescent tube. Flowers are collected in an inflorescence-brush and have a pedicel in the genera Pereskia (lat. Pereskia), rhodocactus (lat. Rhodocactus). Usually only one cactus flower develops in the axil of the papilla or from the areola. In neoraimondia (lat. Neoraimondia), myrtillocactus (lat. Myrtillocactus), ripsalis (lat. Rhipsalis) and lofocereus (lat. Lophocereus), they can be from 2-3 to 5-6. Same-sex flowers only in Mammillaria dioecious. Their sepals smoothly turn into petals and it is difficult to distinguish them from each other.

The number of petals in a cactus flower can be from 4-10 (for ripsalis, perescia) to an indefinitely large number. The shape of the flowers can be tubular, bell-shaped, funnel-shaped or in the form of a wide open wheel.

The corollas of flowering cacti are painted in all colors and shades of the spectrum: they are red, crimson, scarlet, pink, white, yellow, orange, green, purple, lavender, lilac, with the exception of the clearly blue color. The flowers of some cacti are bicolor (orange-red, yellow-orange, pink-purple, etc.) or striped.

Below are photos of beautiful indoor flowering cacti with names.

Echinocereus triglochidiatus with red flowers. Photo credit: Stan Shebs, CC BY-SA 3.0

The number of stamens in a flower of some varieties of cacti can reach 2-3 thousand or more. The only large pistil consists of three or many carpels and is distinguished by a fleshy lobed stigma. Inside the corolla are nectaries of various structures that secrete a sweet liquid to attract pollinators. They are pollinated by insects, small birds, more often hummingbirds, or bats, there are several self-pollinating species. Cactus flowers are very sensitive to external influences and short-lived. The cactus does not bloom for long: there are species whose flowers live only a few hours. The longest flowering period reaches 10 days.

Cactus fruits are multi-seeded, rarely single-seeded. They can be spherical, oblong or pear-shaped. The smallest reach 1-2 cm in length (in Mammillaria). In addition, cactus fruits can be juicy, semi-succulent (berry-like) or dry.

Dry fruits are equipped with bristles, spines and hairs, with the help of which they cling to the fur of mammals, to the feathers of birds, and in this way travel.

Juicy fruits are:

• non-opening (in mammillaria, myrtillocactus, ripsalis);
• drop-down (in hylocereus, epiphyllum, cephalocereus);
• slimy (as in naked hymnocalycium (lat. Gymnocalycium denudatum).

The fruits of many cacti are edible. Usually such specimens are juicy and large, about the size of a tangerine or orange. Animals eat them and at the same time spread the seeds to new places.

The fruit of Hylocereus wavy is called pitahaya (pitahaya). Photo by: Webysther Nunes, CC BY-SA 4.0

How are cacti different from other succulents?

Cacti belong to the group of xerophytes that grow in the most arid places on our planet. Plants of deserts, semi-deserts and savannahs adapt to the environment in different ways - some save water (sclerophytes), others store it in the organs of their body (succulents). Cacti make up the most species-rich group of stem succulent xerophytes. Their entire structure is adapted to survive long periods of drought.

If you do not go into systematic differences, then cacti are outwardly very similar to leaf succulents, such as fat women, agaves, aloe. It is also difficult for an uninformed observer to distinguish cacti from stem succulent stocks or spurges. However, in all spurges and slipways, milky juice is secreted at a break; in cacti, only a few spherical papillary species have such a feature.

The difference between cacti is already noticeable at the level of their seedlings. They have a juicy hypocotyl ring (hypocotyl, also known as the germinal stalk) and strongly reduced cotyledons. Only in some varieties (Epiphyllum, Hylocereus and Peresian) the cotyledons are well developed.

Cacti can be unmistakably distinguished from other succulents by the presence of modified axillary buds, areoles, resembling miniature pads. They serve as external evidence that the main moisture-storing part of the plant is the stem and not the leaf. Lateral shoots develop from the areoles of cacti. Flowers (generative shoots) appear from them, after the flowering of which fruits are formed. Kidney scales give rise to needles, leaves (in non-specialized species - peresian and some prickly pear) and hairs. From areoles in different types of cacti, up to hundreds of spines can grow. Modified axillary buds may be pubescent or glabrous, bipartite or entire. A flower often grows from one part of the doubled areola, and spines appear from the other. These buds also produce and secrete a sweet sap that attracts pollinators to the flowers.

cactus life forms

In nature, cacti are found in the form of trees, shrubs, shrubs and herbs. They can be erect, creeping, cushion-shaped, settling on other plants and rocks (epiphytes). K. Capek, a Czech satirist, best described the shape of these plants: "... cacti have the shape of a sea urchin, cucumber, pumpkin, candlestick, jug, priest's miter, snake's nest ...".

Most of the cacti have thickened, fleshy stems of spherical, columnar, stone-like and other shapes. Some columnar cacti consist of a distinct central trunk and "branches" extending from it. The stems of some plants reach 20 meters in height: for example, in carnegia (lat. Carnegiea) and other pachycereus (lat. Pachycereeae).

Pachycereus Pringle (lat. Pachycereus pringlei). Photo by Stephen Marlett, Public Domain

The spherical (round) shape inherent in many species of the family is ideal for dry places: with the largest body surface, it provides the least evaporation of moisture.

Round echinocactus Gruzoni (Grusoni) (lat. Echinocactus grusonii). Photo Credit: Tangopaso, Public Domain

The most primitive cacti that grow in the savannas are bush-shaped with ordinary leaves. These are plants of the Pereskiaceae subfamily (lat. Pereskioideae) and part of the plants of the prickly pear subfamily (lat. Opuntioideae).

Epiphytic species grow in equatorial humid forests, using other plants for support and settlement.

Opuntia consist of flattened, ovoid or cylindrical segments. From each such link, new segments grow.

The stems of lithophytic cacti descend to the soil and spread along it. Parts of actively branching plants form "pillows". Such colonies grow to gigantic sizes, several meters in diameter.

Whip-shaped aporocactus, whip-shaped disocactus (lat. Aporocactus flagelliformis). Photo credit: Bastique, CC BY-SA 3.0

Where do cacti grow?

The homeland and natural habitat of cacti is the New World, that is, the American continent, as well as the islands of the West Indies (Caribbean, Bahamas, etc.). Here cacti grow from central Canada to the southern part of South America (Patagonia). The border of their range in the north is 56 ° north latitude, where snow covers are common. Plants from the genus prickly pear are found here. In the south, the plants have spread to 54 ° south latitude, where representatives of the genus Pterocactus can be seen. Cacti grow in all climatic zones and regions of both continents, also going high into the mountains. The largest number of species grows in the south of the USA, in Mexico, Peru, Brazil, Colombia, Bolivia, Argentina, Chile.

In Africa, in Madagascar, Sri Lanka and the Mascarene Islands, the species Rhipsalis baccifera grows, the seeds of which were brought here by birds. Many species of cacti have been settled around the world by humans; the species Opuntia humifusa is more common than others. This cactus also grows in Russia - near the Black Sea and in the Volga region.

The fruits of the plant Rhipsalis baccifera are similar to gooseberries. Photo by: Frank Vincentz, CC BY-SA 3.0

Cacti are found in the following climatic zones:

• desert

Deserts can be located at different heights above sea level: on the ocean coast, in the foothills, high in the mountains. Their location affects the climatic conditions and species composition of the flora. In coastal deserts, melocactus, hylocereus and other plants are found. In rocky, high-mountain and foothill deserts, the species composition is even richer: such giants as giant carnegia, representatives of the genera Ariocarpus, Mammillaria, Lophophora, Espostoa (Espostoia), prickly pear and so on grow here.

• Savannah

Savannah plants are convenient to keep as indoor plants. They tolerate cold dry content and abundant watering during the growth period. A number of tephrocactus and prickly pear grow in this climate zone.

• Moist equatorial forests

Tropical rainforests are rich in epiphytic plants that grow in partial shade of trees. They have bare, thornless stems that are round or flattened (flat) in shape. Schlumbergers, zygocactus, epiphyllums, ripsalis (rods), hatiors, selenicereuses, lepismiums (lepizmiums), weberocereus, epiphyllopsis and creeping forest cacti hylocereus are found here. When keeping such cacti at home, they require the absence of direct sunlight and sufficient watering all year round.

Hylocereus wavy (sinuous) (lat. Hylocereus undatus). Photo credit: Tominiko974, CC BY-SA 3.0

Cactus classification

The cactus family is divided into 4 subfamilies:

1. Subfamily Pereskaceae (lat. Pereskioideae)

Includes one genus of cacti with implicit succulent properties. These are shrubby, tree-like or liana-like plants with branches and normally developed, alternately arranged leaves. A few stiff spines emerge from their hairy areoles, and the flowers of the peresciaceae do not contain a tube. The berry-like fruit of some species of peresian cacti is edible. The subfamily includes 20 species of plants growing on the edges of tropical forests, in the savannahs and kaatingas of South and Central America.

1. Subfamily Opuntia (lat. Opuntioideae)

These are widespread creeping or straight-growing shrubs and shrubs around the world. They have whole cylindrical or segmented stems consisting of spherical, disc-shaped or oval links. Juicy, flat, subulate leaves of prickly pear cacti fall off quickly. A distinctive feature of the subfamily is glochidia - these are jagged, easily detachable spines located in the areoles, which are difficult to extract from the epithelium of tissue and mucous membranes. Flowers similar to all prickly pear are formed both on the upper and on the lateral areoles. They are large, wide open, wheel-shaped, with sensitive stamens. Their corollas are painted white, orange or yellow. Seeds are different from all other cacti: they are flat and covered with a strong shell. Seedlings have pronounced cotyledons.

1. Subfamily Mauhienivye (lat. Maihuenioideae)

The subfamily includes only 2 genera of the original cacti, growing mainly in Patagonia. Outwardly, they resemble prickly pear without glochidia and used to belong to the same subfamily with them. Plants consist of cylindrical shoots with long-lived leaves up to 1 cm long. They often form dense clusters.

1. Subfamily Cactus (lat. Cactoideae)

This is the largest subfamily containing all remaining genera of cacti. It includes highly succulent plants without glochidia and leaves, with stems of various shapes - spherical, candle-shaped, columnar. These are trees, shrubs, shrubs, herbs, epiphytes and semi-epiphytes. Their seedlings do not have pronounced cotyledons, they are cylindrical or spherical.

Mauenia (Maihuenia, Mayenia, Peppegi Opuntia), species - Maihuenia poeppigii. Photo by: Michael Wolf, CC BY-SA 3.0

Types of cacti, photos and names

• Whip-shaped aporocactus (whip-shaped disocactus) (lat.Disocactus flagelliformis, syn.Aporocactus flagelliformis) - one of the easiest epiphytic cacti in the culture. Its shoots branching from the base in the form of hanging lashes look good in hanging planters. The lashes are 1 cm in diameter and up to 60 cm long. Bright pink or crimson flowers 6 cm long are randomly formed along all shoots.

This variety of cacti does not tolerate frost, propagated by seeds and cuttings. In nature, it is found in large numbers in Mexico, as well as in other tropical regions of South and Central America. It grows by clinging to rock ledges, stones, branches and tree trunks. In nature, it forms thickets of hanging stems up to 5 meters long. The roots of the plant also hang from the support and receive water and nutrients from the air. Shoots with slightly pronounced ribs, the number of which can be from 8 to 13. Soft thin spines are located radially, their number varies from 8 to 12. In the center there are 3-4 spines, similar to all the others.

The fruits of the whip-shaped aporocactus are spherical, covered with needles with white-yellow flesh.

• also has the name "rabbit ears". This is a bushy cactus without thorns, with a strongly branched stem 40-60 cm high. Its green segments of an ovoid flattened shape reach a length of 10-15 cm. This cactus does not have thorns, but is dotted with thousands of small areoles with tufts of glochidia. Orange-yellow prickly pear flowers bloom in early summer.

There is also another subspecies of this plant with yellowish-green flowers, yellow areoles and glochidia.

Prickly pear grows on the plateaus of Central Mexico, in the state of Hidalgo, at an altitude of 1000 meters above sea level.

• grows in the river valleys of Argentina and Paraguay.

The stem of the plant is flat-spherical (5 cm high, 6 cm in diameter), with slightly wavy convex ribs separated by dark transverse stripes. In the areoles, 5 spines up to 1 cm long, curved in the direction of the stem, appear. Large olive-green flowers grow in the center of the cactus.

The Gymnocalycium mihanovichii cactus has a number of varieties with pink, white, green and yellow flowers, the most beautiful of which is the artificial variety Gymnocalycium mihanovichii var. rubrum (var. friedrichii f. Rubra). It does not contain chlorophyll, is colored red-burgundy, has flowers of red, orange, dark purple, yellow or white, can only grow in a grafted state, but not on its own. In recent years, other varieties of cactus have also been bred, devoid of chlorophyll and having flowers of orange, burgundy, pink and even black.

Chlorophyll-free forms of Mikhanovich's hymnocalycium. Photo credit: Vimukthi, CC BY-SA 3.0

• Parody small-seeded (lat.Parody microsperma) - a common variety of cacti from Bolivia and Argentina.

The stem at the beginning of growth has a spherical shape, later it changes and becomes short-cylindrical. It reaches a height of 20 cm, a diameter of 10 cm. The stem of the plant consists of 15-20 spirally twisted ribs, divided into tubercles (papillae). In the areoles there are 20 peripheral needles (soft, vitreous, 0.6 cm long) and 3-4 central spines of red or brown color and up to 1 cm long. One of the spines in the center is bent with a hook. Large central flowers reach 4 cm in diameter. Outside they are red in color, inside they are orange or golden yellow. The cactus blooms in June with several buds at once, the flowers live for about 3 days.

• Espostoa lanata (esposta woolly) (lat. Espostoa lanata) also has popular names: Peruvian old man cactus, old Peruvian, snow cactus, cotton cactus. He received these nicknames for a thick coating of long white hairs resembling fluff. Snow-white pubescence helps the plant survive the harsh climate of the highlands. The woolly espostoa cactus was originally found on the western slopes of the Alps of southern Ecuador and northern Peru. The inhabitants of Peru even filled their pillows with down plants.

The stem of espostolanate is columnar and reaches 7 meters in natural conditions and 3 meters in cultivation. In addition to soft hairs, the cactus is covered with sharp spikes. In its habitat, it is a fairly common species, which has several varieties that differ in the length of the spines. Under the fluff of hairs, you can see that the body of the plant has 18-25 ribs. A cactus flower appears once every few years from a lateral cephalus, blooming at night.

• Mammillaria Zeilmann (lat. Mammillaria zeilmanniana)- endemic to Mexico, known only in the state of Guanajuato, rare in nature and protected species. Grows in canyons near water, loves high humidity.

This cactus is spherical at the beginning and cylindrical as it grows, growing in length up to 10 cm. It is accompanied by numerous baby shoots, constantly growing from the base. In young plants, the areoles are covered with soft hairs, in adults the spines are hard, and one of the central spines is bent by a hook. The glossy green stem is divided into 13-15 ribs, which in turn consist of soft tubercles (papillae). Zeilmann's mammillaria cactus looks very beautiful during flowering. Bright purple flowers appear in a fan, ringing the top.

• - This is an unusual cactus native to the highlands of Northeast and Central Mexico. Grows on sandy or stony limestone soils.

Some of its representatives do not have spines, but the light areoles of most of these plants look like pubescent specks. Cactus seeds are bowl-shaped or similar to sea shells. The fruits of the plant are densely hairy and open either star-like or at the base. Astrophytum flowers are yellow with a red center, pubescent with scales and long hairs. Different populations of this cactus differ significantly from each other, and adjectives are added to their names that describe their individual features or habitat: naked, dull, Potos, bare, columnar, and others.

Astrophytum multistigma without spines Astrophytum myriostigma var. nudum. Photo credit: Petar43, CC BY-SA 3.0

• - endemic to the Chihuahuan Desert, located in the northeast of Mexico and the southwest of the United States.

This is a large plant up to 3 meters tall with numerous sharp red spines. Its columnar stems often form significant clusters with numerous daughter stems growing from the main stem. The red spikes create a decorative contrast with the radial bristle-like hairs.

This type of cactus forms different variations depending on the place of growth, there are also artificially created varieties. They may have yellow spines or a mixture of red and yellow needles. White bristles also do not grow in all varieties. The ribs of the ferocactus are straight, they can be from 13 to 20. The flowers of the plant are red-yellow.

• Rebutia dwarf (lat. Rebutia pygmaea, syn. Rebutia colorea)- a cactus native to Bolivia with a powerful root exceeding the aerial part of the plant. Its short-cylindrical or rounded stem is olive green or brownish purple in color and has 9 to 11 ribs. The areoles contain 6 to 8 radially arranged sharp spines. The flowers form on the lower half of the stem and are bright, carmine red or purple.

• - Argentine type of cacti with brown, curved central spines up to 6 cm long. The generic name of the plant in translation means " similar to a hedgehog". A round or cylindrical stem in room conditions reaches a height of 35 cm, in natural habitats it can be two meters high. The stem is divided into 12-14 ribs that form smooth wavy ridges. From the center of the oblong white areoles comes a long brown spine bent up. Radial peripheral spines can be from 8 to 10 pieces.

White glossy flowers on long tubes grow laterally, closer to the top of the stem. Echinopsis white-flowered cactus blooms from 2 to 3 days.

• Cereus Peruvian (rocky) (lat. Cereus repandus, syn. Cereus peruvianus). The word "cereus" in translation means "wax candle", and, indeed, plants from this genus are gigantic in size, reaching 20 meters in height. Representatives of the species settle on the rocks and themselves somewhat resemble huge stones.

Their long, ribbed, cylindrical stem is grey-green or grey-blue. The top of the stem is adorned with brown hairs. The stem itself has 6 ribs, along which areoles, armed with sharp spikes, stretch. Numerous shoots grow from the main stem, forming interesting compositions.

At home, the Peruvian cereus can grow from 50 to 100 cm in height. Its large white flowers bloom at night and wither in the morning. In nature, long-nosed vegetarian bats pollinate them. In room conditions, the cereus cactus rarely blooms. The red or orange berry-like fruits of the plant are edible: the locals pick them up and eat them like we do strawberries.

• Lophophora Williams (lat. Lophophora williamsii)- a flowering cactus without thorns, with a spherical flattened bluish-gray stem, with or without processes. Suitable for growing at home. The plant is indistinctly divided into 8-10 ribs, which are more like tubercles, decorated with assemblies. This species has no spines. Sparse areoles form tufts of white hairs on the sides of the stem, and modified buds located at the top form dense pubescence. It is no coincidence that the name of this genus in translation means "to wear a comb." Williams lophophora flowers also grow near the top of the shoot: they are small, pink, on short tubes.

The Indians call this type of cactus and drink from it the word "peyote", or "peyote".

• Cephalocereus Senilis, or Senilis (lat. Cephalocereus senilis)- endemic to Mexico (states of Hidalgo and Guanajuato).

It has columnar stems abundantly branching at the base, reaching a height of 15 m. The shoots have 20-30 ribs, light green at the beginning of growth, later gray-green. In close-set numerous areoles, 3-5 gray or yellowish four-centimeter sharp spines grow. The entire stem of the Mexican cactus is covered with long white hairs hanging down, reaching 30 cm in length in adult plants. Funnel-shaped flowers up to 9.5 cm long bloom in the summer at night. They form on a villous thickening of the stem called pseudocephaly. The pharynx of the flower is colored yellow-pink, and its outer petals are red-orange. Cephalocereus has spherical red juicy fruits with many brown seeds inside. In room conditions, this fluffy cactus does not bloom.

• - erect cactus with a columnar stem, which sometimes branches at the base and grows to a height of 1 meter. The light green stem is divided by grooves into 25 low ribs, on which areoles with 30 thin, soft, white-silver spines lie close to each other. Due to the abundance of spines, it seems that the cactus is wearing a fur coat. Radial spines reach 1-1.7 cm in length. In the center of the areola there are 4 denser yellow-brown spines 2-4 cm long.

In the upper part of the stem, abundantly covered with thorns, red-violet flowers bloom. They are tubular, 8-9 cm long, during the day their petals only slightly diverge to the sides. Cactus buds are covered with scales with bristles and hairs. Strauss cleistocactus fruits are spherical, multi-seeded, similar to berries.

The plant comes from the northern regions of Bolivia, is found on rocky slopes at an altitude of up to 2000 meters above sea level.

• - epiphytic bushy plant, 15-20 cm high, hanging or creeping, with glossy branching dark green stems. The original distribution area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe cactus is the north of Brazil. Hatiora stems are numerous, they consist of flat elliptical segments with scalloped edges. Along the edges of each link there are 3-5 rounded protrusions with halos containing soft fluffy hairs and 1-2 yellow-brown bristles.

In early summer, numerous flowers bloom on the terminal segments. They have short tubes and bright red petals. Cacti bloom during the day.

• - climbing shrub from 3 centimeters to 9-10 meters long. This is the most primitive cactus with branching fleshy stems and oval or lanceolate leaves. In the lower part of the plant, the leaves fall off over time, and brown areoles with 1-3 strong central spines and 2 softer peripheral spines remain in their place. In nature, the spines help the perescia to cling to tree trunks.

Pereskia prickly cactus grows in Central and South America. At the end of summer or autumn, young shoots appear on it with yellow-pink-white flowers collected in a brush inflorescence. Orange oval cactus fruits are edible, their length is 2 cm.

• - This is the largest cactus in the world that grows in Mexico and two US states: Arizona and California.

In shape, the plant looks like a tall chandelier or a branched column up to 18-20 meters high and 65 cm thick. On the giant's ribbed trunk there are long spines 7 cm in size. During flowering, large flowers bloom on the cactus, painted in different shades: white, red , rarely green, orange or yellowish.

• Blossfeldia tiny (lat. Blossfeldia liliputana)- the smallest cactus in the world. The diameter of its stem reaches 1-1.2 cm (according to some reports up to 3 cm), and white and occasionally pink flowers are 0.6-1.5 cm long and 0.5-0.7 cm in diameter.

This cactus grows in northwestern Argentina and southern Bolivia in South America. It is found in the mountains, often near waterfalls.

• thrips

Thrips are initially yellowish-green, later black-brown insects up to 1 mm long. They most often attack the top of the cactus, polluting it with their excrement. Damage looks like spots of silver or bronze color. To combat thrips, you need to spray the plant with pesticides, and the treatment should be repeated periodically to avoid re-infection.

• sciarids (leaf mosquitoes, mushroom mosquitoes, detritus)

Sciarids are small black two-winged insects 2 mm in size, similar to midges. Their eggs hatch into transparent larvae 4 mm long with black heads that damage plant roots. To combat the larvae, you need to use soil insecticides, while the midges themselves can be killed mechanically. Also, check nearby plants: they can also be damaged by a pest that especially loves moist soil.

• root nematodes

Cacti infect two types of root nematodes: root-knot nematodes, which cause thickenings on the roots (galls), and cyst-forming nematodes. The latter, after attaching to the roots, swell strongly and turn into a lemon-like cyst 0.5 mm in size. Infection occurs with lumps of earth, through tools and pots, and dampness contributes to the reproduction of the pest. The defeat of cacti by root nematodes first leads to a stop in their growth, later the root is destroyed and the whole plant dies. This process is difficult to see and it is often too late to help the plant. As a preventive measure, you need to disinfect pots and tools with boiling water, and also use high-quality soil in which there will be no nematode eggs. To combat the pest, you can use special chemicals. It is also necessary to transplant the cactus, after removing all the thickenings on the roots. When transplanting, it is advisable to treat the roots with hot water at a temperature of 45 degrees Celsius: this method, by the way, is used in the fight against worms.

Diseases of cacti, photo and treatment

The following are common cactus diseases and how to treat them.

• Wet rot of cactus (late blight)

• dry rot cactus

The disease is caused by fungi. The color of the stem becomes less intense, the cactus begins to dry out. It is very difficult to fight this disease, because when the disease becomes noticeable, the plant can no longer be saved. It must be removed from the collection so as not to infect other flowers. To prevent dry rot, it is recommended to treat cacti with fungicides at least once every six months.

• stem rot

It affects young plants, leading to their curvature. A velvety green coating appears on the stems of cacti - these are spores of the fungus. Low temperatures and high humidity increase the likelihood of disease. Damaged plants must be removed.

• Mosaic of epiphyllums

The causative agent of this viral disease is Epiphyllum mosaic virus. The plant is covered with bright yellow or light green spots and dots. Some of the spots appear to be sunken in. The tips of the stems of diseased cacti dry out, and the buds fall off. The disease is incurable, the plant must be destroyed.

• spotted rust

If rusty spots and crusts appear on the cactus stem, the plant must be treated with a fungicide.

• Anthracnose

With this disease, rounded light or brown (brownish) spots appear on the cactus. To combat the disease, you can use Bordeaux liquid, a solution of copper sulfate, colloidal sulfur.

• yellowing cactus

If the cactus stem has turned yellow, it may be due to nutrient deficiencies, viruses, or bacteria. With a lack of nutrition, you only need to feed the plant. If the disease is of a viral nature, it is incurable, and the infected plant must be destroyed.

• Root rot

• Red or yellow spots on the cactus

If yellow spots appear on the top or light side of the plant, you probably forgot to remove it from bright sunlight. The formation of spots is also facilitated by insufficient air access to the room where cacti live. You can save them with shading, spraying and providing fresh air. From excess or lack of light, parts of cacti may turn red. By accumulating the anthocyanin pigment in the cells, they thus protect their tissues.

• Fusarium

A sign of this fungal disease is a red-brown color on the cut of the conducting vessels of the cactus, as well as a possible pink or purple bloom on the stems. The defeat starts from the roots. The plant must be destroyed.

• Cancer of stems and roots

The result of the disease is an abnormal growth of stem or root tissue. The process can be local or generalized. In the latter case, the plant may die. Cancer can be caused by viruses or fungi. Often the plant cannot be saved, so it is better to destroy the cactus.

• frostbite

With a sharp drop in temperature and frostbite, the plants at first do not look affected, but after a few days the affected areas of the stems change color, turn black and dry out. The tissues of tender plants that have undergone severe frosts become vitreous and transparent and liquefy as they thaw. As a preventive measure, it is undesirable to put cacti near a window or in a draft. When purchasing a cactus, find out what temperature regime is preferable for them.

• cactus not blooming

The absence of flowers on the plant can be caused by an excess of nitrogen or a deficiency of phosphorus, as well as a poor winter dormancy due to too warm content.

• Among the Aztecs, not only theft and murder were considered a crime, but also foul language and lying. If the first two violations were punishable by deprivation of life, then foul language was punished by piercing the tongue with cactus thorns. For other offenses, thorns were pricked on the lips or hands, and the one who committed a more serious crime was stripped naked and driven through thickets of thorny cacti.
• The bluish-gray spherical cactus Lophophore Williams contains alkaloids - mescaline, lophophorine and others. Like drugs, they cause hallucinations and a state of euphoria. The Aztecs called this cactus the word "peyote" (peyote) and considered it the god Yukili, reincarnated as a plant.
• The first cacti were brought to Europe on the ship of Columbus. Under the name "melon thistle" (prickly melon), they were taken to the Old World, surrounded by other curiosities.

Florarium of cacti and succulents. Taken from the site: lmbd.ru

• The composition of many species of echinocactus, prickly pear, ariocarpus, cereus contains substances that can suppress the development of pathogens. Mayans and Aztecs used them to treat various diseases, prevent infections when injured, and so on.
• The alcoholic drink tequila is not cactus vodka at all, as many people think. In fact, tequila is made from the juice of the agave, which belongs to the asparagus family, the agave subfamily.
• The largest flower of the cactus family, up to 40 cm long, grows in the species Hylocereus monacanthus. The smallest flowers with a diameter of 7–9 mm grow in cacti such as epitelants (lat. Epithelantha) and blossomsfeldia (lat. Blossfeldia).

Video about cacti.

In the video below you will see stunningly beautiful flowering cacti. You can find many more photos and videos of the author in his Instagram channel @echinopsisfreak

Recently, there has been an increase in the number of house plant species that have become part of the decor. Cacti are plants that enjoy great love among flower growers. The bizarre shapes and structure of cacti cause a lively interest in them. Everyone wants to have in their collection as many representatives of this group of plants as possible.

In order to appear to a houseplant in all the beauty and splendor of its leaves and flowers, you need to find exactly its place in the apartment: in the light, in direct sunlight or in the shade on the windowsill; in a vase hanging from the ceiling, so that its green whips freely descend down or near the support along which its branches wind.

Having received a cactus as a gift, it was decided to collect a collection of cacti and become a real cactus grower.

The purpose of the study: to study the existing types of cacti, the conditions for their cultivation in our climatic zone, the methods of reproduction of these flowers; their role in human life.

To achieve these goals, several tasks need to be solved:

Study the relevant literature;

Conduct an experiment and determine the most optimal conditions for growing "children" of cacti.

During the study, it was suggested that if you take nutrient soil, sand and water and plant a cactus baby in each of these environments, then the cactus root baby should develop faster in the soil, as it contains more nutrients.

To achieve the goal of the study and solve the tasks set, the literature of both domestic and foreign authors was used, a comparative analysis of the structure of cacti of different types, experimental work on growing "children" of cacti, questioning, analysis and generalization of the results of the questioning and experiment.

The work consists of introduction, main part, conclusion. In the introduction, the substantiation of the research topic, its tasks and methods is given. In the main part, the definition of the concept of "cactus" is given, the characteristics of the plant; growing conditions are shown, the problems of preserving the plant as a species are touched upon.

In the practical part, an analysis was made of the structure of various plant species, the conditions for growing these plants at home, and questioning. Here are the results of the experiment. Conclusions arising from the results of practical research are contained in the conclusion.

The result of research activities on the study of cacti was the creation of a collection of cacti.

2. Main body

2. 1. What is a cactus?

Cacti came to Europe after the discovery of America. Carl Linnaeus (1707 - 1778), the creator of classification systems for flora and fauna, combined all 20 species of cacti known at that time into a single genus Cactus.

Cacti are classified as a large group of succulent plants, belong to the family of dicotyledonous, perennial plants, usually with fleshy, succulent stems that are capacious water reservoirs. With their well-developed root and fiber system, they draw moisture from the substrate with a force of up to 147.15 bar.

The leaves of cacti are modified (reduced) and replaced by spines, hairs or bristles. This is a good defense against those who want to enjoy the juicy pulp of the plant. Young spines of cacti are often brightly colored with anthocyanins. This is a kind of protection of the growing parts of the plant from ultraviolet radiation and the heat rays of the sun. In addition, the smallest spines collect moisture and absorb it. The color of the spines of cacti is varied, changes with age and is an adornment of many types of cactus.

Cacti can look completely different. “Some species are spherical, not growing more than 1-2 cm in height. But there are globular cacti that weigh several tons, as well as columnar cacti, which can reach a height of 20 m. Over 3000 (other sources indicate 5000) species of these plants of various forms (tree-like, shrubby and liana-like) are distinguished in the world. Many cacti grow, forming impenetrable thickets.

Depending on the forms, cacti are divided into three subfamilies:

1. Perescia with flat or fleshy true leaves, which withstood one vegetative period, forming thickets in light dry forests, similar to medium-sized deciduous trees.

2. Prickly pear produces leaves, but they quickly fall off. Their areoles, with a large number of spines, are always covered with fine hairs (glochidia). Flowers - in the form of bowls and tubes - are almost never found among them.

3. Cereus are the most species-rich subfamily of cacti.

They do not have leaves, the forms of the stem are very diverse. There are ribs that determine the appearance of the plant, having tubercles and papillae typical of the genus, which shade parts of the stem from direct sunlight. In some species, growing points (axillas) are located at the base, flowers appear from them. Among the cacti of this species there are anomalies - the cristate form Point.

the vegetative cone at the top is transformed, acquiring the shape of a ribbon. The reasons for this phenomenon have not yet been studied.

Mostly cacti grow in the deserts and semi-deserts of America. The temperature in these areas ranges from +40 degrees to the limits of soil freezing. Plants withstand such extreme conditions because during the cold season, the cell sap of plants is concentrated, which lowers the freezing point. The plant shrinks so that if the watery cell sap of the plant freezes, there is enough room in the cells for the plant to straighten itself out without harm to itself. There are types of cacti - epiphytes that grow in tropical forests in the forks of branches. Most species of cacti are pronounced mountain dwellers, they can be found at an altitude of up to 4.800 m.

The fruits and pulp of some types of cacti are edible. Previously, local residents used cacti as fuel, in construction. In the modern world, these plants are grown as indoor or greenhouse crops.

All cacti are protected under the 1974 Washington Convention for the Protection of Species, which lists species of cacti that are threatened with extinction. It is forbidden to collect them at the place of growth, harm them and trade them. Specially bred young plants are offered for sale, and the seller in the store must provide the buyer with the appropriate supporting “CITES certificate”.

2. 2. The structure of cacti and the features of caring for them

In order to create the best conditions for house plants, it is necessary to study the plants, to identify similarities and differences in structure, in growing conditions.

Plants, like all living things, are made up of cells. Hundreds of cells of the same shape and with the same function form a tissue; an organ consists of several tissues. The main organs of the plant are the roots, stem, leaves, each of them performs its role. Important organs intended for reproduction are flowers, seeds, fruits.

The roots of a plant have two main functions: to nourish the plant and to fix it in the soil. The roots of even plants of the same species are of very different lengths, which depends on the type of soil and its moisture content. In cacti, rod (vertical, slightly branched), onion and fibrous roots are distinguished.

To prevent diseases, before transplanting, it is necessary to lower the cleaned roots into a weak soapy solution.

The main functions of the stem are to support the aerial part and the connection between the root system and the leaf. The stem regulates the uniform distribution of nutrients throughout the internal organs of the plant.

80-90% of the mass of a cactus is water.

Cacti have a thick waxy layer and a cover of thorns and thorns to protect them from evaporation, protecting them from strong sunlight.

There are some types of cacti (for example, ripsalis) that do not have thorns at all, while others, like mammillaria, on the contrary, are covered with a thick layer of thorns.

The leaves have many different functions, the main one is photosynthesis, that is, a chemical reaction in the leaf tissue, with the help of which not only organic substances are created, but also oxygen. Cactus spines perform two more important tasks: protecting the plant and absorbing moisture from the air.

You can also tell from the spines what kind of care the plants need.

A characteristic feature of any cactus is the presence of areoles. The lower part of it bears spines, and the upper part corresponds to the flower bud. From the areoles, along with the spines, scales, hairs, bristles appear. They are not the formation of the upper layer of the stem, like the thorns of a rose.

Cactus flowers are the most diverse in shape, size, color. They can appear one at a time or several at once, as in cephalia. Cacti that bloom during the day are brightly colored, attracting insects and hummingbirds. Nocturnal cactus flowers have a strong scent to attract moths and even bats.

In order for the cactus flowers to bloom every year, it is necessary to observe a dormant period. The longer the rest period (40-70 days), the more flowers there will be. Abundant flowering is facilitated by good lighting in the winter apartment of cacti and location in the first spring days. Gradual, plentiful watering and top dressing in the spring awakens flower buds to life.

Cacti do not like lime water. They get sick from it, and some die. With excess lime in the water, lime deposits form on the lower part of the cactus stems. To soften water, it must first be boiled. The best water temperature for watering cacti is considered to be when the lowered hand feels neither cold nor heat, i.e. + 35-40 degrees. For spraying, it should be much warmer, just hot: after all, when spraying, the water temperature drops sharply.

It is not desirable to promote the growth of shoots by watering with simultaneous heating. Growth at this point should be suppressed as much as possible so that the plant can form flower buds. The exception is zygocactus and ripsalis. Their life rhythm does not correspond to our change of seasons, they grow and bloom in tropical summer, that is, at the time when we have snow, therefore they require a bright place in winter with high air humidity, which reaches spraying.

So, cacti need a lot of light. The more spines, hairs and bristles a cactus has, the closer they can be placed to a window.

There are no uniform rules for the care and rearing that apply to all succulents. Each requires individual care. Knowing the structure of the roots, you can choose the right soil.

With proper care, cacti bloom annually and even twice a year.

2. 3. Transplanting cacti and propagating cacti

Cacti themselves will tell you when it is better to transplant them. As a rule, this happens in the spring 1 time in two years, when they began to grow, their tops climbed, new areoles began to open. It is necessary to increase watering and prepare an earthen mixture. Transplanting a living growing plant is not dangerous, it will quickly grow, firmly grasp the roots of the ground. For a "sleeping" plant, a transplant can be fatal.

A few days before transplanting, it is better not to water the cacti, then the earthen ball is easily removed from the pot, and the small roots remain intact.

Cacti such as Mammillaria form offshoots. They can be used as cuttings. Sometimes the “children” form roots already on the mother plant and easily break off and take root. If the processes are firmly attached to the mother, then they must be cut with a sharp knife at the thinnest point of the plant horizontally. Dry the stalk in the air for several days, large processes are dried for 1-2 weeks.

For the experiment, cuttings of Echinopsis were taken, approximately equal in thickness and height. There were no roots on the "children", but they separated from the mother plant easily, so they were immediately planted in soil, sand, water. The temperature in the room was + 25 + 27 degrees. The air was quite dry: the cuttings were not far from the battery.

The experiment showed that if you plant the "children" of a cactus in a different environment, then the result is different. Not a single seedling died, but the root system developed differently.

The first roots of the cuttings in the soil were outlined already on the 4th day. On day 8, the roots were about 5 mm long.

The roots of the "baby" in the water were in no hurry to germinate: the seventh day, but there was no result. The next day I added a complex mineral fertilizer for flower-decorative houseplants. The first roots appeared on the 16th day.

The germination of the root system in the sand was very slow. The problem arose in that, the sand quickly dried up. I also had to add flower fertilizer, and put clay shards on the surface. These measures did not accelerate root germination. Only three weeks later, the first thin threads of roots appeared in the water, and nothing sprouted in the sand.

When the roots grew a little, the plants were transplanted into a pot with soil. Now the cacti are growing in the classroom.

It took about 4 weeks to root the cuttings in the soil, and growing the "kids" in the sand and in the water takes longer. In addition, there is a risk of plant rotting if it is kept in a constantly damp environment for a long time.

I suppose it was possible to avoid rotting of the plant due to too dry air. In addition, the sand began to moisten 1 time in 1.5 - 2 weeks.

The development of roots in the "children" of the cactus (in the soil).

Day 4 Day 8 Day 21 Day 30

Thus, in a practical way, it was found that a substrate consisting of 2/3 of the earth with a small amount of fertilizer and 1/3 of sand is most suitable for the germination of the root system of cacti. The optimum air temperature is + 25 +27. If the plants are kept in water for a long time or in constantly moist soil without the addition of sand, then there is a risk of plant rotting.

Conclusion

Thus, summing up in general, it should be noted that although the guys love and grow plants, they have a very vague idea about cacti specifically. This research can help them fill in the gaps and tips to apply when growing cacti in the classroom and at home.

In the modern world, a person breeds cacti, first of all, for the sake of pleasure, it gives aesthetic pleasure.

After studying the special literature on cacti, you can choose easier-to-care cacti for growing, such as: echinopsis, epifullum, mammillaria, notocactus and others.

The structure of the roots, the appearance of the thorns can suggest the correct care for the plant: location, lighting, watering, soil composition, even the choice of a container for planting.

Plants can be propagated in many ways: by seeds, layering, cuttings. The simplest and fastest in time is reproduction by “kids”.

It is better to plant them in a mixture consisting of 2/3 of the earth with a small amount of fertilizer and 1/3 of the sand. The optimum air temperature for rooting is + 25 +27.

The result of the research was a small collection of cacti, some of which were already in bloom. Acquired and summarized the first experience in the care and cultivation of cacti, which can be applied in extracurricular activities.