Cacti are the perennial flowering plants relating to succulents. Family Cactaceous – one of the most ancient, various and numerous on the planet. How many exists species of cacti – still the science definitely does not know.
Variety of types
All species of cacti cannot be considered though attempts by scientists are constantly made. Approximately them there is about 1500. They are distributed on four subfamilies and 130 childbirth. But classification of these plants constantly is replenished, and scientists-botanists cannot still come to a consensus concerning separate groups, childbirth, types and subspecies.
Cacti a sort come from America (Northern and Southern) and the islands of West Indies. In a wild look some representatives of family meet on Madagascar, in Africa and on Sri Lanka, where as scientists consider, seeds of cacti were brought from America by birds. Other types were extended by the person. And today cacti grow on all continents, except for Antarctica.
Classification
Pereskiyevye's subfamily includes this one sort of cacti which representatives are more similar to a bush with fully developed leaves and lignified not succulent stalks. This Rod is considered an evolutionary link between cacti and deciduous plants. The Opuntsiyevye family is most widespread. It unites the cacti differing in the reduced leaves, succulent stalks and type of thorns which are called "glokhidiya". Glokhidiya represent typical cactaceous prickles – fragile, rigid, sharp and supplied with jags on all length. Prickles are necessary to a cactus at all not for appearance. Getting into a digestive tract of animals, they cause strong irritation. So cacti protect themselves from their eating. All cacti of family, despite their large number, have the similar building and flowers recognized in a form. Maukhiyenivye's subfamily consists of one sort too. Externally his representatives are similar to opuntsiyevy, but without prickles. Because of tiny (up to 1 cm) underdeveloped leaflets cacti of this family remind herbs. These are succulents, but not possessing ITSELF - metabolism (metabolism of organic acids at family plants Cactaceous). All other sorts of cacti belong to a subfamily Cactaceous. They have no leaves and needles and to them attach some epiphytes and kserofit. The most widespread species of cacti from the Opuntsiyevye family. They are grown up in apartments by inhabitants of a midland, and in gardens – inhabitants of tropical countries. Grow up not only because of decorative effect, but also for collecting edible and very useful fruits which are called pitakhaya, or draconian fruit.