Cacti pages 1, Cactus, Cacti, Cactuses, Cacti, Cactus, Cacti, Cactus

Cacti are the most evolved of all succulent plants as they have highly developed flowers and advanced leaf structures. The spine base on a cactus is a highly evolved structure called an areola. It is from these areolas that most cacti produce flowers and young plants. It is the presence of these areolas that distinguishes cacti from all other plant groups. The family of cactacea has thousands of members within many genera. They have adapted to many climate ranges from extreme desert to tropical rainforests, contrary to public opinion most are not true desert plants, they are able to survive in harsh dry climates for extended periods of time but during the growing seasons they enjoy water and in many cases become vigorous growers.

Cacti have developed a spine structure which is a modified leaf, this spine takes many forms and in some cacti many of the spines are fine hairs rather that weapons. The spines growing from the centre of the plant act as protection from the sunlight for the new growth and as the spines mature they become defensive. A common misconception is that cacti are dangerous, to me a cactus grower for many years, cacti are nothing compared to the complaints I make when my wife asks me to prune the roses. Cacti spines are highly varied in shape and size and in many cases to soft or small to cause any harm. Some families like the opuntias have some member who you would rather forget and others like the Mammillarias that have spines with amazing form and beauty.

	Cacti are a highly varied group of plants with hundreds of different shapes, sizes and colours. Some plants like the plant on the left are more ferocious than attractive whereas the body of the Gymnocalycium on the left is nothing short of spectacular.
Cactus Garden at our retail nursery at Collectors Corner		Cacti are well used world wide for landscaping due to their low maintenance and dramatic shapes
	"Old Man Cactus" on the left This variety has soft hairs rather than spines and is almost harmless Whereas "The Old Man of The Andes" on the right has soft hairs and very sharp and stiff spines that command respect
The lovely spines of Mammillaria duwei, a slow growing miniature cactus with very attractive flowers		Many miniature cacti species exist, some that may grow a huge 10cm across in 100 years
	These two photos represent hybrids of cacti found in moist or more tropical climate. The flowers can often be spectacular. The Epiphyllum on the right can produce flowers up to 30cm across.

.Cacti are grown not just for their amazing diversity in shape and form but also for their amazing flowers. Cacti are highly advanced in the scale of evolution and have flowers to match. Some species have tine flowers only 2 or 3 mm across while others have huge blooms over 30cm. Some flower for only a few days while others flower for many months. A small plant only 5cm across can have flowers 10cm across. A common complaint we receive fro the public is that they have had cacti for years and they have never seen a flower. This often occurs as the plant they own is misunderstood. Flowering in all plants is a sign of maturity, once mature flowers will occur if conditions are adequate. A plant grow in an adverse environment will not mature, no mater how old it is. A cactus that grows to 5 meters tall will not mature in a 10cm pot and so on. The most common reason for failure is sunlight, a key ingredient to success, without sun almost no flowering plant on earth can flower. Those cacti that live in open environments need a substantial amount of sunlight to grow well, those cacti that live amongst trees or under bushes (very few) can flower in lower light.

As these pages develop you will be able to explore this marvellous group of plants, specialty cactus pages will be added later.