Cacti are not alone. They actually depend on other plants to feed them. The reproduction of cacti occurs thanks to pollinators: depending on the species, these can be bees, birds, moths, bats. In addition, cactus flowers, fruits and water-filled tissues provide food and water to desert animals. Some woodpeckers drill holes in the stems of cacti and return to live inside the cacti a year later. The rotting stems of these plants provide shelter for insects and spiders.
They survive in the tropics and icy mountains. Some cactus species also grow in tropical forests. And on tree branches. There are cacti that live in the high reaches of the Andes, where the temperature regularly drops below zero. There is even a unique species – lava cactus (Brachycereus nesioticus). It can only be found in the Galapagos Islands. It colonizes dry lava flows.
Mysterious mistletoe cactus. This is the only cactus species found in the African tropics, Madagascar and Sri Lanka. It grows hanging on other plants. The remaining species can only be found in America.
The unexpected threat of climate change. Many cactus species can only survive under certain conditions. Therefore, they may have difficulty adapting to climate change. Hundreds of cactus species will face extinction in the near future.
Cacti thrive in temperate climates, not deserts. The formation of new species occurs most rapidly in cacti in temperate climates. Such places are neither too hard nor too soft. Daily temperature fluctuations are about 10 degrees Celsius.
Psychedelic cacti shaped ancient and modern cultures. Some cacti produce the powerful psychedelic compound mescaline. When consumed, this substance causes vivid hallucinations and altered states of consciousness. Andean cultures have consumed the high-altitude San Pedro cactus for mental and physical healing for thousands of years.
Source: Ferra
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