Cactus

From Conservapedia

Cactus is the collective term for plants from the Cactaceae family. The plural is sometimes listed as cacti however cactus is also an acceptable plural term. All cacti have spines. Some cactus use their spines to protect themselves from predators of all types, including humans. The spines are also used as UV protection in plants that are exposed to high levels of UV. Some cactus use their hooked spines to go traveling, propagating by grabbing on to passing animals or 4-wheel vehicles (example: Opuntia bigelovi - The dreaded "Jumping Cholla" of Arizona). Cactus are not a good source of water in the desert.

Cactus typically grow in desert environments that can be very hot in the summer, while high-desert cactus also have to survive very cold temperatures in the winter, and are adapted to these harsh conditions by having a relatively low surface area compared to their volume, and a tough, waxy outer surface. These combine to help reduce loss of moisture due to transpiration. Because of their structure and deep root systems they can usually survive long periods without rainfall.

All cactus are new-world plants, ranging from the southern tips of Peru north into Canada (Opuntia fragilis can be found as far north as Whistler), but not as far as Alaska.

[edit] Uses

The Prickly Pear (of the opuntia genus) can be eaten, after the spines have been removed, and is used as a forage crop in some areas. It is very tasty when sauteed in olive oil with garlic and capers. After being introduced to Australia it became a serious nuisance, covering huge areas of ground. Cattle will feed on it during severe drought when there is no other food source, but they do not have a proper digestive system in place to digest the spines, so they often die. This has also been a serious problem in Africa. On the other hand, the plant has naturalized very nicely in Italy, where they use the fruit, also known as "tunas", to make a lovely syrupy sauce.

The San Pedro cactus (Echinopsis pachanoi) and it's close relative, the San Pedro Macho (Echinopsis peruvianus) are used in Peru by local bands of natives as a hallucinogenic in sacred tribal ceremonies. It is also eaten by people trying to get high.

Many cacti are also grown as ornamental plants for the garden and in pots for indoor in sunny west- or south-facing windows. One must always amend the soil to make sure it is well-draining before planting cactus. Otherwise the plant will rot from the inside out, causing it to turn into a gelatinous mess.