Cactaceae is the cactus family of flowering plants, comprising over a thousand species across roughly 130 genera, native almost entirely to the Americas with one exception found in Africa and Sri Lanka. The family includes the genus Carnegiea, whose single species, the saguaro, is among the largest cacti, and members are characterized by succulent stems, spines derived from leaves, and adaptations for extreme drought tolerance.
Facts
Taxonomic Rank Scientific Name Member Species/Taxa Count Geographic Distributionnative to the Americas, ranging from Patagonia in the south to parts of western Canada in the north, with the exception of Rhipsalis baccifera, which is also found in Africa and Sri Lanka 1 Defining Characteristicsalmost all cacti are succulents, meaning they have thickened, fleshy organs adapted to store water 1 Identification
Distinguishing AppearanceMost species of cacti have lost true leaves, retaining only spines, which are highly modified leaves 1 Classification
Living or Extinct Connections
Parent Taxon Of
Source Arthrocereus rondonianus (Wikidata)
Source Astrophytum capricorne (Wikidata)
Source Aztekium ritteri (Wikidata)
Source Cereus jamacaru (Wikidata)
Source Echinocactus horizonthalonius (Wikidata)
Source Echinocereus engelmannii (Wikidata)
Source Echinopsis oxygona (Wikidata)
Source Ferocactus pilosus (Wikidata)
Source Gymnocalycium mihanovichii (Wikidata)
Source Gymnocalycium saglionis (Wikidata)
Source Hatiora salicornoides (Wikidata)
Source Lava cactus (Wikidata)
Source Parodia leninghausii (Wikidata)
Source Wikidata: Queen of the Night
Source Rhipsalis pilocarpa (Wikidata)
Source Wikidata: Saguaro Cactus
Source Wikidata: Queen of the Night
Source Uebelmannia pectinifera (Wikidata)
In the Other Atlases
Found In
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Sources
1. Cactus - Wikipedia
Introduction, sentence 1 (rank clause)
is a member of the plant family Cactaceae
Introduction, sentence 1 (name clause)
is a member of the plant family Cactaceae
Introduction, sentence 1 (count clause)
comprising about 127 genera with some 1,750 known species
Introduction, distribution sentence
native to the Americas, ranging from Patagonia in the south to parts of western Canada in the north, with the exception of Rhipsalis baccifera, which is also found in Africa and Sri Lanka
Introduction, adaptation sentence
almost all cacti are succulents, meaning they have thickened, fleshy organs adapted to store water
Introduction, spines sentence
Most species of cacti have lost true leaves, retaining only spines, which are highly modified leaves
In Group: Other Eudicot Families, Lead
A cactus (pl.: cacti, cactuses, or less commonly, cactus) is a member of the plant family Cactaceae (), a family of the order Caryophyllales comprising about 127 genera with some 1,750 known species.
View the Source2. Wikidata (taxon extant/extinct status)
Wikimedia Foundation / Wikidata contributorsQ14560, descriptionView the Source Wikidata: Cactaceae
Wikidata: Saguaro Cactus
Parent Taxon Of: Saguaro Cactus, Wikidata parent-taxon (P171) chainView the Source Wikidata: Opuntia
Parent Taxon Of: Prickly Pear, Wikidata parent-taxon (P171) chainView the Source Wikidata: Queen of the Night
Wikidata- Parent Taxon Of: Queen of the Night, Wikidata parent-taxon (P171) chain
- Parent Taxon Of: Selenicereus grandiflorus, Wikidata parent-taxon (P171) chain
View the Source Hatiora salicornoides (Wikidata)
WikidataParent Taxon Of: Hatiora salicornoides, Wikidata parent-taxon (P171) chainView the Source Lava cactus (Wikidata)
WikidataParent Taxon Of: Lava cactus, Wikidata parent-taxon (P171) chainView the Source Echinopsis oxygona (Wikidata)
WikidataParent Taxon Of: Echinopsis oxygona, Wikidata parent-taxon (P171) chainView the Source Echinocereus engelmannii (Wikidata)
WikidataParent Taxon Of: Echinocereus engelmannii, Wikidata parent-taxon (P171) chainView the Source Astrophytum capricorne (Wikidata)
WikidataParent Taxon Of: Astrophytum capricorne, Wikidata parent-taxon (P171) chainView the Source Arthrocereus rondonianus (Wikidata)
WikidataParent Taxon Of: Arthrocereus rondonianus, Wikidata parent-taxon (P171) chainView the Source Aztekium ritteri (Wikidata)
WikidataParent Taxon Of: Aztekium ritteri, Wikidata parent-taxon (P171) chainView the Source Uebelmannia pectinifera (Wikidata)
WikidataParent Taxon Of: Uebelmannia pectinifera, Wikidata parent-taxon (P171) chainView the Source Gymnocalycium mihanovichii (Wikidata)
WikidataParent Taxon Of: Gymnocalycium mihanovichii, Wikidata parent-taxon (P171) chainView the Source Cereus jamacaru (Wikidata)
WikidataParent Taxon Of: Cereus jamacaru, Wikidata parent-taxon (P171) chainView the Source Rhipsalis pilocarpa (Wikidata)
WikidataParent Taxon Of: Rhipsalis pilocarpa, Wikidata parent-taxon (P171) chainView the Source Parodia leninghausii (Wikidata)
WikidataParent Taxon Of: Parodia leninghausii, Wikidata parent-taxon (P171) chainView the Source Ferocactus pilosus (Wikidata)
WikidataParent Taxon Of: Ferocactus pilosus, Wikidata parent-taxon (P171) chainView the Source Gymnocalycium saglionis (Wikidata)
WikidataParent Taxon Of: Gymnocalycium saglionis, Wikidata parent-taxon (P171) chainView the Source Echinocactus horizonthalonius (Wikidata)
WikidataParent Taxon Of: Echinocactus horizonthalonius, Wikidata parent-taxon (P171) chainView the Source Reader Challenges (0)
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