Search results
Results from the WOW.Com Content Network
A cactus (pl.: cacti, cactuses, or less commonly, cactus) [3] is a member of the plant family Cactaceae (/ k æ k ˈ t eɪ s i. iː,-ˌ aɪ /), [a] a family of the order Caryophyllales comprising about 127 genera with some 1,750 known species. [4]
The name Cactus became so confused that the 1905 Vienna botanical congress rejected Cactus as a genus name, [4] and conserved Mammillaria. [ 1 ] Mammillaria is a large and diverse genus with many species often exhibiting variations due to the nature of terrain, weather, soil and other ecological factors.
The saguaro is a columnar cactus that grows notable branches, usually referred to as arms.Over 50 arms may grow on one plant, with one specimen having 78 arms. [6] Saguaros grow from 3–16 m (10–52 ft) tall, and up to 75 cm (30 in) in diameter.
Stenocereus beneckei is a shrub-like cactus with upright or slightly curved shoots, growing 1–2 meters tall. The light to gray-green shoots often appear whitish, with a diameter of 5–7 cm. They feature 6–9 widely spaced ribs divided into large, blunt cusps.
Some species of barrel cactus reach over 1 metre (3.3 ft) in height at maturity, and have been known to reach 3 metres (9.8 ft) in some regions. The ribs are numerous and pronounced, and the spines are long and can range in color from yellow to tan to red, depending on the age of the plant and the species.
Stenocereus thurberi, the organ pipe cactus, [3] is a species of cactus native to Mexico and the United States. The species is found in rocky desert. Two subspecies are recognized based on their distribution and height. The Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument is named for the species. Cacti are minimally adapted to particular thermal niches ...
Pediocactus simpsonii, known by the common names mountain cactus, snowball cactus, and mountain ball cactus, is a relatively common cactus that has adapted to survive in cold and dry environments in high elevation areas of the western United States. It can be found at higher elevations than any other cactus in North America.
Astrophytum asterias is a species of cactus in the genus Astrophytum, and is native to small parts of Texas in the United States and Mexico. Common names include sand dollar cactus, sea urchin cactus, star cactus and star peyote.