Data

• Family Cactaceae
• Text by: V.Aschero
• Photo: M.Ferreyra & D.Alarcón

Description

The family Cactaceae comprises around 200 genera and 2000 species native to America, with most of species aggregated at the Tropics. Cacti are typical but not exclusive of arid lands. Plants are succulent and perennial. They are distinguished from other succulent plants by the presence of areoles, they are modified branches from which flowers, branches or leaves may grow. In most plants the leaves are reduced, absent or modified as spines, minimizing the area from which water can be lost, and the stems are photosynthetic. Flowers are often large, colourful and very attractive and can be pollinated by wind, birds, insects or bats. Cacti flowers are astonishing! Habitat destruction and illegal collection for international trade are the mayor conservation threat to cacti and the hole group is covered by CITES (Convention on the International Trade of Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora).