High altitude survivors of the Andes Mountains

Desert survival masters

Chapter 1

How succulents drink and breathe

Chapter 2

Cacti of the Americas

Chapter 3

Old World succulent wonders

Chapter 4

Humans and the succulent world

YOUR GOAL

Master of Desert survival masters

Ch 2 · Cacti of the Americas

Cacti of the Americas

BETA

artiteacher Drag cacti to their native deserts to discover how they master extreme survival.

artiteacher Cacti of the Americas

Accordion pleats! Accordion pleats! Swell up, swell up! Watch me hold the rain!

artiteacher High altitude survivors of the Andes Mountains

High altitude survivors of the Andes Mountains

artiteacher Andean cacti survive freezing mountain nights with woolly coats.

How prickly pears thrive in the wild

artiteacher Prickly pear cacti thrive from Canada down to Patagonia.

Fun Fact

Saguaro age: A wild saguaro cactus grows so slowly that it takes up to 75 years just to sprout its first arm.

Glossary

cactus (noun)
A succulent plant with a thick fleshy stem that typically bears spines and lacks leaves. Except for the mistletoe cactus, every species in this family is native to the Americas.

Gossip

Where would you visit?

Quiz

Where do epiphytic cacti, such as the Christmas cactus, grow in the wild?

artiteacher How prickly pears thrive in the wild

Quiz

How long does it typically take for a wild giant saguaro cactus to grow its very first arm?

artiteacher The giant saguaro of the Sonoran Desert

Quiz

In which desert are giant saguaro cacti naturally found?

artiteacher The mystery of tropical rain forest cacti

Quiz

What is the scientific name of the giant saguaro cactus?

Quiz

What is the traditional Spanish name for the edible, bright red fruit of the prickly pear cactus?

Quiz

How do high-altitude cacti in the Andes Mountains protect themselves from freezing temperatures?

Quiz

Which country is the native home of the Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera)?

Quiz

What are the flat, leaf-like pads of a prickly pear cactus actually classified as?