There are a few different types of cacti. If you’re not sure which one you’re looking for, here are the main characteristics of cacti and how to identify them. Also, read on to learn about the common cultivars. Once you’re confident about your cactus identification, you can start enjoying it immediately! Once you know what it is and how to identify it, you can move on to choosing a container and bringing it indoors.
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Identifying cacti
Knowing what cactus type you have can help you care for it properly. It will also help you learn about cacti care. Certain types of cacti require special care, while others can survive in a variety of climates.
Identifying cacti types will reduce the amount of guesswork when it comes to caring for them.
Some of the common cactus types are a barrel cactus and epiphytic pereskias.
Characteristics
The main characteristic of cacti is their ability to retain water, which is critical to their survival in arid environments. Cacti have evolved intrinsic water management systems, including the use of mucilage to store water and a network of spines and trichomes that absorb water and store it for future use.
Despite their lack of leaves, cacti can still perform photosynthesis without a leaf.
Distribution
The population structure of cactus species is largely determined by two main factors: size and frequency of reclutamment. Population growth rates in cacti vary greatly with age, and positive plant associations are important for cactus establishment. The reproductive capacity of cactus increases with size, and the age at which plants first reproduce is usually older than their lifespan.
Typically, populations of cacti consist of an uneven number of individuals. The population structure of cacti reflects the massive recruitment events that are associated with benign periods of abundant rainfall.
Common cultivars
Cacti can grow up to hundreds of times bigger than they do in the wild. In fact, one archaeologist, Julian Hayden, had an eight-foot cactus in his yard, which produced more than 200 blooms in one night.
This cactus is commonly known as the woolly nipple. Its cactus-like stems are covered with tufts of fine hairs, and it gives the plant an appearance of rabbit ears.
Diseases
Cactus can be susceptible to many diseases. The most common are listed below. Cactus pear, blue mold, and basal soft rot are all caused by fungi.
The causal agent for these diseases is Neofusicoccum batangarum. A preliminary report from Italy identified the causal agent as a bacterium.
The first known outbreak of the fungus was in Sicily.
Flowers
Flowering cactus species come in a variety of colors. Some have white or pink flowers, while others have sulfur-yellow or red ones.
The flowers are terminal and are 8-12 inches long. The cactus’ petals are shorter than the sepals, and the petals are covered with scaly tubercles. In addition to its bright color, cacti also produce edible berries.
