Cactus: An Overview
Life on Earth depends on plants. They supply both humans and animals with sustenance. They also produce the oxygen that is inhaled by other living organisms. As part of the process of photosynthesis, plants create oxygen. There are a variety of plants present on earth occurring in all shapes and sizes. Among them, a cactus is a diverse group of succulent plants. They grow in dry and rocky soil. Even if it doesn't rain for a long time, the cactus has enough water to support its growth because it stores water in its leaves, roots, and stems.
What is a Cactus Plant?
Cactuses, or cacti, are desert plants. They thrive in arid environments where other plants struggle to survive. They survive because of their capacity to hold water. A sharp spine is an adaptation of a cactus plant that serves as additional protection. These make animals less likely to eat them. There are roughly 1,650 different kinds or species of cactus. The cactus habitat includes dry and rocky areas like deserts. However, due to the adaptive features of cactus, they can be grown in all kinds of climates.
Physical Characteristics of Cactus
How are cacti adapted to survive in a desert? This is an intriguing question that amazes everyone. Following are the characteristic features that show adaptation of cactus in points:
The majority of desert cacti have a complex network of shallow roots that extend broadly along the soil's surface. This allows them to access any surface moisture caused by fog, mist, or morning dew as well as to soak up as much water as possible when it rains.
When it rains, cactus roots develop temporary root hairs, which is an intriguing method for them to conserve water and avoid water loss. The surface area of the root system that is in touch with the soil soon increases as a result of the rapid growth of these root hairs.
The absence of leaves of cactus is one of their most notable adaptations. Cacti no longer require leaves because of the process of photosynthesis and the necessity for pores to take in carbon dioxide and release oxygen.
Cactus characteristics of leaves include flat design increasing their surface area relative to the quantity of interior tissue they contain, and maximising their exposure to sunlight. Due to their huge surface area, leaves also feature a great number of stomata.
The stem of the cactus is modified in several ways like in the form of spikes which protects it from predators. They may be long or short, thick and spiky or thin and hairlike, bristly, woolly, needle-like, barbed, hooked, straight, or curved. Their colours also differ.
Cacti frequently have a waxy coating on their stems called a cuticle, which aids in keeping moisture inside the plant. When compared to the outer skin of most plants, the cuticle covering cactus stems is impervious and extremely thick.
Some Facts about Cactus
The majority of cactus species grow in hot, dry climates. They are common in Mexico and many parts of the southwestern United States in North America. Cactuses, on the other hand, can be found in mountains, in rainforests, and even in Alaska and near Antarctica.
Cactus are mostly found in India's dry regions, such as Gujarat and Rajasthan's Thar desert.
As it rarely rains in the desert, cacti stores a lot of water when it rains to deal with the dry and hot conditions of the desert.
The cactus will go to great lengths to conserve water, including only opening its stomata at night.
Propagation is essential for the development of new plants within the same species. Spines that are blown around by strong desert winds or that pierce animals frequently end up in new places. The spines then develop into cacti plants, ensuring the plants' survival after the older ones die of old age.
Conclusion
Cactus are a diverse group of desert plants that can be grown in climate variability. There are different parts of a cactus that help it to adapt to the adverse conditions of a desert. Other interesting cactus adaptations include their spines, which are in addition to their peculiar growth patterns and absence of leaves. Spines are produced by all cacti, albeit some only have them in their juvenile stages. Surprisingly, cactus spines serve several vital functions in aiding the plant in protecting itself from the damaging effects of the Sun, conserving water and even collecting moisture. Growing cacti are popular in home decor. As indoor plants, numerous unique and lovely types are admired.
FAQs on How are Cactus Adapted to Survive in a Desert?
1. What adaptations are exhibited by the cactus to attract pollinators?
Depending on the pollinators they hope to attract, different kinds of cacti generate different flowers. While bees are the most frequent pollinators of cacti, other insects such as butterflies, moths, hummingbirds, and bats may also be drawn to the flowers of cacti in desert regions. Bat pollination of flowering plants is not very frequent. However, a large percentage of cacti species are focused on luring bats, who may travel great distances between scarce communities of cacti in semi-desert and desert habitats.
These cacti produce flowers that often bloom at dusk and in the evening, are less vividly coloured than conventional cactus flowers, have a musty odour and yield a lot of sugary nectar.
2. How do spines help cactus to adapt?
Cactus spines have several purposes, one of which is to defend the plant against predators.
A single thin spine doesn't cast much shade, but when there are enough of them, they can offer a sizable amount of sun protection.
By reflecting sunlight, white and other pale-coloured spines reduce solar damage.
By controlling the airflow around the plant, spines on cacti are an intriguing way to thrive in arid settings.
By preserving moisture for the plant, spines help cactus survive in the desert. When it rains, fogs, mists or dews, the moisture in the air condenses on the cactus' spines and drips to the ground, where its weak roots take it in.
3. How does a cactus save energy?
Desert cactus lack the leaves that serve as the plant's growth factories, which reduces the amount of green tissue capable of photosynthesis. They consequently grow slowly. One of the most crucial cactus adaptations for surviving in the desert, where conditions are challenging and unpredictable, is a slow metabolism. Cacti can focus on maintaining the structures and behaviours that aid in their survival rather than focusing their energy on producing the foliage that other plants require, to maintain their more rapid development. Cacti have grown to their greatest advantage by taking it easy and being able to thrive with fewer resources because desert settings frequently have poor soil fertility in addition to minimal rainfall.
