A cactus is a member of the plant family Cactaceae, a family comprising about 127 genera with some 1750 known species of the order Caryophyllales. The word "cactus" derives, through Latin, from the Ancient Greek κάκτος, kaktos, a name originally used by Theophrastus for a spiny plant whose identity is now not certain. Cacti occur in a wide range of shapes and sizes. Most cacti live in habitats subject to at least some drought. Many live in extremely dry environments, even being found in the Atacama Desert, one of the driest places on earth. Cacti show many adaptations to conserve water. Almost all cacti are succulents, meaning they have thickened, fleshy parts adapted to store water. Unlike many other succulents, the stem is the only part of most cacti where this vital process takes place. Most species of cacti have lost true leaves, retaining only spines, which are highly modified leaves. As well as defending against herbivores, spines help prevent water loss by reducing air flow close to the cactus and providing some shade. In the absence of leaves, enlarged stems carry out photosynthesis. Cacti are native to the Americas, ranging from Patagonia in the south to parts of western Canada in the north—except for Rhipsalis baccifera, which also grows in Africa and Sri Lanka.
Escobaria, pincushion cactus or foxtail cactus is a genus of low-growing cacti that range from the southernmost parts of central and western Canada through northern Mexico, with one species in Cuba. The genus comprises about 23 species. The term "pincushion cactus" may also refer to the related Mammillaria.
Mammillaria is one of the largest genera in the cactus family (Cactaceae), with currently 200 known species and varieties recognized. Most of the mammillarias are native to Mexico, but some come from the southwest United States, the Caribbean, Colombia, Venezuela, Guatemala and Honduras. The common name "pincushion cactus" refers to this and the closely related genus Escobaria.
Fishhook cactus is a common name for any hook-spined species of the genera Mammillaria, Echinomastus or Sclerocactus. They are small cacti, usually growing up to 6-7 inches (20 cm) high, and are shaped similar to a barrel cactus. They are not to be confused with the fishhook barrel cactus of the Sonoran and Chihuahuan Deserts. The Fishhook cactus is a large category of around 150 species.
Mammillaria dioica, also called the strawberry cactus, California fishhook cactus, strawberry pincusion or fishhook cactus, is a cactus species of the genus Mammillaria. Its common name in Spanish is biznaga llavina.
Mammillaria painteri is a species of plant in the family Cactaceae. It is endemic to Mexico. It is usually found near, but not limited to, San Juan del Rio, Guanajuato. It is commonly referred to as the biznaguita in Spanish. It is also known by many to be synonymous with Mammillaria crinita subspecies crinita. It was evaluated and added to the IUCN Redlist in 2002 as data deficient. The causes of this species' endangerment or threats to its well-being are not clear.
Mammillaria rhodantha, the rainbow pincushion, is a plant in the cactus family (Cactaceae) and is one of 171 species in the genus Mammillaria which are characterized by having nipple-shaped tubercles or prominences on their surface.
Mammillaria elongata, the gold lace cactus or ladyfinger cactus, is a species of flowering plant in the family Cactaceae, native to central Mexico. Growing to 15 cm (6 in) tall by 30 cm (12 in) wide, it consists of densely packed clusters of elongated oval stems, covered in harmless yellow or brown spines, and in spring producing white or yellow flowers. It is among the commonest and most variable of its genus in nature, and is a popular subject for cultivation. It has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.
Mammillaria spinosissima, also known as the spiny pincushion cactus, is a species of flowering plant in the cactus family Cactaceae, endemic to the central Mexican states of Guerrero and Morelos, where they grow at elevations of approximately 1,600 to 1,900 metres. The species was described in 1838 by James Forbes, gardener of the Duke of Bedford. Botanist David Hunt collected a specimen in 1971, when he located one near Sierra de Tepoztlan, Mexico.
Mammillaria tetrancistra is a species of fishhook cactus known by the common name common fishhook cactus. It is native to the Mojave and Sonoran Deserts of northern Mexico and the southwestern United States, where it grows in a variety of desert habitat types.
Mammillaria parkinsonii, also known as owl-eye pincushion or owl-eye cactus, is a species of flowering plant in the family Cactaceae. It is endemic to Queretaro, Mexico. Mammillaria parkinsonii is listed as Endangered due to a limited distribution, severe fragmentation, a continuing decline due to illegal collection, and degradation of its habitat across its range. Clarification of the taxonomic status of this species is a research priority.
Mammillaria bombycina, the silken pincushion cactus, is a species of flowering plant in the family Cactaceae.
Mammillaria carmenae, the Isla Carmen pincushion cactus, is a species of flowering plant in the family Cactaceae.
Mammillaria plumosa, the feather cactus, is a species of flowering plant in the family Cactaceae, native to Northeastern Mexico.
Mammillaria grahamii is a species of cactus also known by the name Graham's nipple cactus.
Ladyfinger cactus may refer to:
Mammillaria bocasana is a species of cactus in the subfamily Cactoideae. It is often sold as a "powder puff" cactus, and also as a "Powder Puff Pincushion." The plant is protected from collecting in the wild in Mexico.
Mammillaria fraileana is one of about 200 species of the genus Mammillaria from the cactus family Cactaceae. This species is native to Mexico and can be found along the east coast of the southern part of Baja California Peninsula in Desert Scrub communities. They tend to grow in non calcareous dry granite-based soil but can also grow in rocky habitats, either in rock fissures or directly on top of the rock surface even without the presence of soil. Thus, the mineral composition of the rocks in their habitat directly influence their abundance. The habitat of Mammillaria fraileana is home to succulent flora and is particularly rich in local endemics. Currently, no major threats to the species are known to exist.
Mammillaria surculosa is a species of flowering plant in the cactus family Cactaceae, native to north eastern Mexico, where it occurs in extremely isolated patches at altitudes of 950–1,200 m (3,120–3,940 ft). It is registered as “Endangered” by the IUCN Red List. Growing to 10 cm (3.9 in) tall by 50 cm (20 in) wide, this tiny plant forms colonies of spiny stems with relatively large, lemon yellow flowers in spring.
Mammillaria sphaerica, the longmamma nipple cactus or pale mammillaria is a species of flowering plant in the cactus family Cactaceae, native to south eastern Texas in the USA and north eastern Mexico, where it occurs in scattered patches at altitudes up to 1,000 m (3,300 ft). It forms clumps of small pale green spheres to 5 cm (2.0 in) in diameter, with short hairs and pale yellow flowers up to 3 cm (1.2 in) wide in summer.
