Cacti are a very unusual group of domestic plants, often collectible. Obtaining flowering from prickly succulents can be difficult, but it is more attractive than repulsive. Moreover, a flowering cactus is a bewitching and delightful sight.
Description
Cacti, or simply cacti (Latin name: Cactaceae) belong to the family of flower perennials of the dicotyledon class, of the order Carnation flowers and are divided into 4 subfamilies: Pereskievy, Opuntsievye, Maukhienivye and Cactus.
It is believed that the evolutionary isolation of cacti occurred no less than about 30 or even 35 million years ago. Both America and the islands of the West Indies are considered the birthplace of cacti.
A distinctive feature of the described plants is the presence of hairs or spines, which are axillary buds. There is another feature - this is an unusual structure of the flower and the fruit, a significant part of which is the tissue of the stem.
Most species of cacti are xerophytic plants, well adapted to protracted droughts, can be different in shape and size. Among them there are huge columnar-shaped giants that grow to a height of several meters. And there are so-called branched candelabra, whose weight can reach several tons.
There are cacti that form spiny thickets, or tiny spherical plants, which in an adult state reach only 2 cm in diameter. Some other types of cacti can be prickly whips spreading on the surface. And there are those that are almost entirely made up of a round, turnip-like root, most of which is underground.
Varieties of cacti
There are countless species of cacti. Distinguish between varieties and various types of these succulents. Plants gained such huge popularity due to their unpretentiousness, unusual appearance and, of course, incredibly beautiful flowering.
As mentioned above, there are four subfamilies of cacti.
- Pereskievye (lat. Pereskioideae) - this subfamily contains only one genus, which is recognized by scientists as a connecting evolutionary link between cacti and deciduous plants, since shrubs of this genus actually have full leaves and non-succulent stems.
- Opuntia (Latin: Opuntioideae) - this subfamily combines plants with simplified leaves that are present in young shoots, succulent stems and the presence of glochidia (fragile spines growing in bunches). Cacti of this subfamily are characterized by a variety of shapes and sizes, but they can always be recognized by flowers and seeds, similar in shape and structure. Opuntia sprouts have distinct cotyledons, and the stems have a segmented structure.
- Mauhyenivye (lat. Maihuenioideae) - a subfamily consisting of one genus. In nature, distributed exclusively in Patagonia. Outwardly resemble opuntia, but are not endowed with glochidia. A similarity with opuntia is also evident in the presence of long-lived small (up to 10 mm) succulent leaves with a conical shape. Shoots of this subfamily are similar to sprouts of deciduous plants. Mauchenye succulents do not have CAM metabolism, unlike other cacti.
- Cactus plants (lat. Cactiodeae) is a subfamily uniting all the remaining genera, of which there are a huge number. Here the leaves are completely absent, except perhaps the rudimentary ones located in some plants on a flower tube. This subfamily includes both epiphytic cacti with stems, and succulents with flat leaves or lashes, there are also xerophytic cacti in all their diversity.
There is also a classification for forest and desert cacti.
Forest Indoor Cacti
It is believed that forest species of cacti are the most demanding care at home. These plants are very fond of heat and high humidity in the place of detention. However, direct sunlight is contraindicated, therefore, such cacti must provide diffused bright light. Next will be presented the popular forest species of indoor cacti with photos and names.
In nature, such plants are mainly epiphytes of shrubby forms growing on trees, rotten stumps, snags, rock crevices, which are rich in natural biohumus. The aerial roots of such cacti provide plants with moisture. The stems of forest epiphytes are flexible, soft and quite long. The spines on them are replaced by small setae resembling hairs.
Schlumbergera Cactus
Forest species of indoor cacti (photo in the text) include such a well-known indoor plant as the Decembrist, which is also called the Schlumberger cactus.
This plant is a bush, reaching 30 cm in height. However, its shoots can grow up to 1 m in length. Decembrists blooms, as the name implies, in winter with bright bell-shaped flowers of white, red or pink color.
Ripsalis
Among the forest domestic species and the names of cacti there is also a hator plant, lat. Hatiora salicornioides, it is also called ripsalis.
The shoots of this cactus resemble highly branched lashes. Like the Decembrist, ripsalis has no thorns. But their flowers are very similar in shape. The hatioras are beautiful, resembling a bell of an inflorescence of yellow hues.
Aporocactus
Aporocactus (lat. Aporocactus) also belongs to forest species of indoor cacti. Creeping stems of this plant can grow up to 5 m in length.
They have a cylindrical shape and are densely covered with small bristly spines. Aporocactus is popularly called the rat tail. Its flowers resemble Decembrist flowers in shape, only larger, and grow directly from the body of the lashes, covering them with a beautiful pink cloud.
Epiphyllum
Another great representative of forest species of cacti (photo confirmation of this) is the epiphyllum (lat. Epiphyllum) or phylloctactus. The group of these plants has up to 20 subspecies.
Epiphyllum stalks are branched, long and often flat, sometimes they are trihedral. The thorns of an adult plant mutate into jagged edges. The flowers are also bell-shaped, ranging from snow-white hues to purplish-red.
Desert Indoor Cacti
The homeland of these plants is characterized by harsh living conditions. The lack of moisture and sudden temperature changes in the highlands and deserts made the cacti learn to adapt and survive.
Species and names of desert cacti, which are often grown at home, will be presented a little later. And now about the conditions of their detention.
- Illumination should be as full as possible. Therefore, southern, southwest and southeast windows can be an ideal option. Direct sun is not scary for immigrants from the desert, but the lack of light will significantly slow down their growth and prevent blooming.
- During dormancy, cacti of this type should be kept at significantly lower temperatures (+12 ... + 15 ° C), minimal watering and poor lighting.
- When spring comes, cacti are abundantly watered, placed in the sun and then moisturized about once a month.
Enumeration of the types and names of indoor cacti that are desert, it is best to start with an interesting genus.
Ariocarpus
These plants have a low and flattened stem. Some species have unusually colored stems of a gray or brown hue, but all of them have a fluff in the sinuses of the tubercles. All types of cacti (photos and names of some are presented in the article) are characterized by incredibly beautiful flowering. Ariocarpus is no exception. Sometimes it is difficult to achieve and wait for flowers, but all efforts and all patience are more than paid off when this miracle blossoms. Bell-shaped flowers, painted in yellow, red or white, up to 5 cm in diameter.
According to various sources, the genus of ariocarpus has about 10 species. For instance:
- Ariocarpus agave, having a ball-shaped shoot with smooth skin and flattened thick papillae. Its top view resembles a star, the flowers are large and dark pink.
- The cracked ariocarpus is similar to calcareous stone, the stem of the plant is almost completely immersed in the ground, and the part protruding on the surface is covered with hairs. From this hairy stone, large purple-red or pink flowers bloom.
- Ariocarpus Kochubey is very pretty. Its star-shaped shoot is decorated with stripes, and a huge purple flower blooms in the center.
Gymnocalyciums
Sufficiently large genus. The unifying feature here is a smooth flower tube, devoid of hairs. They grow well on drained soils. Outwardly, they can look completely different. They can have both large and small tubercles, and the thorns vary in color and size.
Cleistocactus
Plants of this genus grow up to 40 cm at home, have a powerful root system. The stems are almost regular cylindrical in shape with unexpressive ribs. They can be erect, branched or lodging, and their thickness varies from 2 to 10 cm. Bristle spines along the ribs are painted in white, yellow, gray or red.
The flowering of the Cleistocactus is plentiful, starting in mid-spring. At the same time, many bright pink or red flowers bloom on the side of the stem at the ends of a small sessile tube. The upper part of the flower reveals scales, turning into lanceolate petals.
Seeds are in bright fruits formed by selfing. Their surface is bristly and glossy, and inside the fruit is a white fragrant flesh with small black seeds.
The most common species is Strauss glue cactus.
Corifanta
Quite a large genus. Translated from Greek means "flowering at the top." These are mainly solitary plants, only sometimes forming curtains. The stem is of various shapes: from spherical to cylindrical. There are no ribs here, and the tubercles are located in a spiral and have a groove on the upper surface.
The flowers are often yellow, less often red from 2 to 10 cm in diameter, located on the top of the plant. Almost all species are self-pollinating. The fruits are large, oblong, green or yellowish in color, ripen for a long time. Brown seeds are smooth or covered with a light mesh.
Melocactus
Among the many species and names of domestic cacti, one cannot but mention this genus. These plants are also called melon cacti. They form single stems of medium size. The shape of melon cacti is from squeezed-spherical to short cylindrical with high ribs and strong straight spines.
Melocactus differs from other relatives by a very peculiar peduncle at the top of the stem. It is a generative shoot, called cephalus, which has no stomata, is densely covered with bristles and the edge. In young plants, cephaly is absent, since its purpose is exclusively in fruiting and flowering. Pollination occurs with the help of birds (hummingbirds), less often with bees and other insects. Many small cactuses are also capable of self-pollination.
Echinocactus
The genus Echinocactus belongs to the subfamily Cereus. The stems of these plants are spherical at a young age and slightly elongated in adulthood. Numerous protruding ribs are covered with spines with an edge.
The flowers are located on the top of the head. May be yellow, pink or red. The flower tube is short, covered with scales and an edge. Narrow petals at the ends are also pubescent. In the wild, echinocactus can grow up to 3 m in height, their mass can be up to 1 ton, and age up to five hundred years. Mexicans use pulp for food.
Indoor plants of this genus love weakly acidic drained soil and bright sun (in the spring it is better to shade, gradually accustoming to direct rays).
Azteciums
A small genus, including only three spherical species (the latter was discovered in 2009). These plants resemble the Aztec sculptures. They have characteristic transverse folds and sparsely pronounced spines. All members of the genus are very slow in growth. They grow by 3 mm in two years. Usually they are propagated by re-grafting children, which are formed on vaccinated mother plants.
Types of domestic cacti are incredibly diverse and numerous. Unfortunately, it is not possible to describe them all within the framework of one article. However, from the foregoing, we can conclude that cacti are interesting plants, and their maintenance and cultivation can be a great pleasure.