WHAT ARE CACTI AND SUCCULENTS?
The oldest fossil cactus remains date back 50 million years ago in Utah and Colorado. Succulents (which include the Cactus family) have evolved a highly specialized anatomy to enable them to survive prolonged drought. Today, they are highly specialized, well-adapted plants capable of outliving all other plants. They store water in the fleshy ‘succulent’ tissue in their… Stems , Roots and Leaves. Stem succulents retain water in their round, tall or barrel shapes. These stems contain chlorophyll used in photosynthesis. They are often ribbed, like a concertina, allowing for expansion and contraction. Most Cacti are stem succulents. Caudiciform succulents (such as Adenium) fall into this description. Root succulents store water underground in their tuberous swollen roots. This also reduces damage caused by fires and grazing animals. Leaf succulents describes most succulent plants which store water in their fleshy thick leaves which shrivel up in drought as water is drawn back toward the ce
