CACTI

reprinted from
LA TIMES
CALIFORNIA CLASSROOM A LEARNING LINK TO THE MILDRED E. MATHIAS BOTANICAL GARDEN AT UCLA

Today is the first day of summer. That means the temperature in Southern California is getting hot. If you were a plant, what kind would you want to be? A cactus, which is a type of succulent, would be a good choice because its stem acts like a water storage tank.

Cacti (the plural of cactus) have tough waxy skin, sharp spines and soft hair. They have bright, colorful and showy flowers that often last only one day, and they produce fruit. There are about 1,800 species of cacti. They grow in many shapes and sizes and can be found in the hot and dry sections of South, Central and North America.

Humans use cacti for food, water, medicines, building materials, tools and decorations. Animals also use cacti for food, water and shelter.
All plants have a common name and a botanical name. For example, the common name for one species of prickly pear cactus is "bunny ears." Its botanical name is Opuntia microdasys. The common names for other species of prickly pear include "beavertail," "porcupine" and "pancake." Can you imagine what they might look like?

To see other cacti, succulents and approximately 5,000 other species of plants, visit the Mildred E. Mathias Botanical Garden at UCLA in the heart of Westwood. To learn more about the garden, visit www.botgard.ucla.edu or call (310) 825-1260.

This Learning Link was provided by Carol Felixson from the Mildred E. Mathias Botanical Garden at UCLA.

Cacti and other succulents grow in many shapes and can be found in the hot, dry sections of South, Central and North America. Illustration by Ursula Doswell-Fotheringham, 12.