Table of Contents
Does a cactus have branches?
Most cactus species don’t have true leaves or branches. Instead, they have highly modified branches called areoles – the tiny bumps that spines grow from. The spines of a cactus are highly modified leaves.
Does cactus have leaf?
Most cacti are lacking traditional leaves because they evolved and grow in a hot, dry environment. Their adaptation is one of survival by storing water as long as possible when it is available. Cacti have adapted by being leafless and growing spines but not thorns.
What kind of stem and leaves does a cactus have?
Cacti have a thick, hard-walled, succulent stem – when it rains, water is stored in the stem. The stems are photosynthetic, green, and fleshy.
What are the cactus parts?
They have flowers with ovaries that lie below the sepals and petals, often deeply sunken into a fleshy receptacle (the part of the stem from which the flower parts grow). All cacti have areoles—highly specialized short shoots with extremely short internodes that produce spines, normal shoots, and flowers.
Why does cactus have their stems?
Cacti have a thick, hard-walled, succulent stem – when it rains, water is stored in the stem. The stems are photosynthetic, green, and fleshy. The spines protect the cactus from predators (animals that would like to eat the cactus to obtain food and/or water). Areoles are circular clusters of spines on a cactus.
Why do cacti have swollen stems?
About cacti Cacti stems and ridges expand to store lots of water when it rains. This guides as much rain as possible to the roots. Some cacti and succulents have swollen roots that store up water for the days when it doesn’t rain; sometimes in the desert it doesn’t rain for months.
What kind of stem does a cacti have?
Cacti have a thick, hard-walled, succulent stem – when it rains, water is stored in the stem. The stems are photosynthetic, green, and fleshy. The inside of the stem is either spongy or hollow (depending on the cactus).
What kind of plant is a cactus plant?
Cacti are perennial plants. Their stems are fleshy or succulent, and are cylindrical or flattened in shape. The stems are green-colored, and are photosynthetic, usually performing this function instead of leaves, which are greatly reduced in abundance or even absent in most mature cacti.
Which is the characteristic feature of a cactus?
Morphology 1 Stems. The leafless, spiny stem is the characteristic feature of the majority of cacti (and all of those belonging to the largest subfamily, the Cactoideae). 2 Areoles. Areoles are structures unique to cacti. 3 Leaves. 4 Spines. 5 Roots.
How are the stems of a cactus protected?
Most species of cactus are well-protected by sharp bristles and spines, which serve to deter most herbivores. The stems of cactus plants have numerous cushion- or pit-like structures known as areoles on their surface, from which usually emerge clusters of spines.