BIORESOURCE PROGRAMME FOR SCHOOL CHILDREN   Xerophytes - Cacti & Succulants by AL Alagammai Back to students page

CACTI & SUCCULENTS

Cacti & succulents come under the group xerophytes.  They can survive under conditions that are hostile to most other plants. The bodies of the cactus are concertinaed so that they can expand rapidly when water is available and contract slowly when it is not, without splitting their skins.

The often dense spination and close ribs help to hold a micro-climate around the plant, to cut down water loss. most have thick waxy skins with few spores to lower transpiration and further reduce water loss.

The cacti usually referred to as  "globular"  are initially in this shape but with great age usually become shortly cylindrical, sometimes erect, sometimes creeping along the ground. Flowering  takes place at different times of the year and in areas where there are  several species from the same genera, then these will usually flower at different times to avoid cross pollination and the  risk of hybrids. The spring is probably the prime time for flowers

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