Cactus and succulents

Prepared by
Mayada M.N. El-Sabwa
Researcher Assistant at Ornamental Plants & Woody
Trees Dep. Agricultural & Biological Research Div.
NRC

Cactus and Succulents
“A succulent (or succophyte) is a plant possessing at least one
succulent tissue. A succulent tissue is a living tissue that, besides
possible other tasks, serves and guarantees at least temporary storage
of utilizable water, which makes the plant temporarily independent
from external water supply when soil water conditions have
deteriorated such that the root is no longer able to provide the
necessary water from soil.” von Willert et al. (1992).
Succulent plants have a global distribution and are of represented in
nearly all habitat types. Over 30 botanical families have succulent
plant species, ranging from tiny annual plants to huge trees. The
Cactaceae is the largest and perhaps the best known of the succulent
plant families. The unifying characteristic of succulent plants is their
ability to store water in one or more organs of the plant, giving rise to
stem succulents, leaf succulents, root succulents - the so-called
caudiciform plants.

CACTI ARE SUCCULENTS, BUT NOT ALL SUCCULENTS ARE CACTI.
 Single family.
Usually leafless.
Stems modified to store
water and are usually
photosynthetic.
Spines are modified
leaves.
Specialized buds
(areoles).
Numerous families.
Native throughout the
world.
Can be leafy or leafless.
May have stems, leaves
or roots modified to store
water.
May have spines, thorns
or prickles.
Do not have areoles.
Cactus Succulents

Taxonomic Groups (IUCN, 1997)
Agavaceae
Subfamily: Yuccoideae
Subfamily: Agavoideae

Subfamily: Yuccoideae
Yucca Hesperaloe

Agave Manfreda Polianthes

Prochynanthes
Beschorneria Furcraea

Aizoaceae
Mesembryanthemoideae Ruchioideae
Mesembs

Aloaceae
Aloe L. Howorthia
Duval.
Gasteria
Duval.

Aloaceae
Astroloba
Mitewaal
Poellnitzia
Mitewaal
Chortolirion A.
Berger

Asclepiadaceae
The family is
characterised by
its unique
complicated
flower
morphology
and highly
evolved
pollination
system.

Asclepiadaceae
AsclepiadoideaePeriplocoideae Secamonoideae

Cactaceae
The Cactus family
(Cactaceae Juss.) is
characterized
botanically by the
presence of stems
bearing specialized,
felted short-shoots
termed areoles,
which usually
develop the spines
(modified leaves)
that represent the
familiar hallmark of
this plant group.

Cactoideae Opuntioideae
Cactaceae

Crassulaceae
The Stonecrop family
(Crassulaceae DC.)
comprises
herbaceous, and
sometimes shrubby,
leaf succulents with
regular,
hermaphrodite
flowers which have
an equal number
(commonly five) of
sepals, petals, and
carpels.

Crassulaceae
Crassuloideae Sedoideae

Euphorbiaceae
The Euphorbia
Family
(Euphorbiaceae
Juss.) is a very
large family, the
sixth largest
among flowering
plants, consisting
of over 300 genera
and 5000 species
in several tribes.

Euphorbiaceae
Pedilanthus Synadenium
Monadenium
Euphorbia

Portulaceae
The
Portulacaceae
Juss. is a
medium-sized
family
comprising
annual or
perennial herbs
and subshrubs to
very large
shrubs.

Unique Morphological Features
Tubercle
In cactus, it is a raised area formed by the fusion of the
stem and modified leaf petiole (technically called the
Podarium).
The apical portion of the tubercle is often occupied by the
areole that contains modified leaves in the form of
multiple spines.
Tubercle is the general term for a raised area or
protuberance on the surface of a plant.

Thorns, Spines and Prickles

Thorns
A thorn is a modified stem and can be recognized because
it is subtended by a leaf.

Spines
A spine is a sharp pointed structure that is a modified leaf
or stipule.

Prickles
Prickles are also called emergences and occur in places
other than the stem node like thorns or spines.

Areole
An areole is a meristematic area where the spines and in
some cases flower buds are formed.

Ribs
In some cases, the tubercles merge to form vertical ridges or
ribs.

Cephalium
Is a woolly and bristly area at the top or on one side of some
cactus species where flower buds are formed.

Cephalium
In Melocactus , there
is a distinct change in
the plants appearance
as it progress from the
juvenile to mature
phase.
The mature phase
growth is represented
by apical cephalium
tissue and has the
ability to flower.

Cephalium
When the cephalium occurs on the side of the stem, it
is referred to as lateral cephalium or pseudocephalium.

Flowers
Flowers are characterized as having many stamens and
petals with an inferior ovary and sometimes an
elongated floral tube.

Fruit
Cactus Fruit are Berries.

Fruit
In some cacti, the fruits are Edible.

Cactus Shapes
Columnar Ceriod
Columnar ceroid cacti have upright growth and a similar diameter
from base to tip.

Reclining Ceriod
Riclining ceroid cacti grow parallel to the ground.

Branched Ceriod
Branched ceroid cacti are upright with several branches.

Trailing Ceriod
Trailing ceroid cacti have hanging growth.

Globular
Globular - cylinderic cacti have a short stature and are a barrel-like
shape.
Cylindric

Globular
Globular - spherical cacti are short with rounded growth.
Spherical

Segmented
Segmented – Upright with flat stems (Phyllocades).
Upright

Segmented
Segmented – Upright have rounded stems.
Upright

Segmented
Jumping cholla (Cylindropuntia bigelovii ) stem segments readily fall from
the plant and are moved around as propagules.
Upright

Segmented
Segmented – epiphytic cacti usually have phylloclade stems and hang.
Epiphytic

Segmented
Epiphytic – trailing cacti that grow in tree-top in subtropical environment.
Epiphytic

Epiphytic
Epiphytic – climbing cacti cling to tree supports and produce adventitious
roots.
Climbing

Cactus and succulents propagation
Cutting
Prickly pears and chollas (Opuntia),
Columnar Cacti (Cereus,
Trichocereus, etc.) and Pincushion
Cacti (Mammillaria) Euphorbias,
Stapeliads, Crassulacaceae
(Kalanchoe, Sedum Graptopetalum)
and Ice Plants are commonly
propagated by
STEM CUTTINGS.
LEAF CUTTINGS of Gasteria,
Haworthia Sansevieria and
Crassulaceae (Kalanchoe, Sedum,
Graptopetalum, etc.)

Bulbils
Some agaves (Agave murpheyi,
vilmoriniana, fourcryodes etc.) and
aloes form bulbils or plantlets on
their flowering stalks. These can be
removed and rooted in pumice
during warm weather. Kalanchoes
commonly form plantlets on the
edges of their leaves. These
plantlets often bear juvenile roots
which can also be rooted in pumice
during the winter. Agave bulbils
are commonly rooted in 1-inch liner
pots or flats with pumice.

Division
Numerous globular cacti
(Echinopsis,
Mammillaria etc.) and leaf
succulents (Agave, Aloe,
Haworthia, etc.) form
numerous offsets or pups.

Grafting
Crests — Cactus crests are often difficult on their
own roots. They are commonly grafted on robust
growing understock.
Cacti that lack chlorophyll — The Gymnocalycium
"Red Cap," which lacks chlorophyll, is commonly
grafted on Hylocereus or Myrtillocactus
Cacti that are difficult on their roots — Certain
pincushion cacti (Mammillaria) and other small
globular cacti that tend to rot off on their own roots
are commonly grafted on Myrtillocactus or
Trichocereus stock.
 More rapid growth — Some globular cacti that
have slow growth rates on their own roots have more
rapid growth when grafted.
Increase of propagules — From the propagation
standpoint of certain globular cacti such as
Mammillaria and Trichocereus, hybrids are readily
propagated by areole-grafting to rapidly increase
specific flower color types.

Grafting

Seeds
Most cacti and succulents can be
raised from seed. Arizona and
California cactus growers produce
millions of cactus and succulent
seedlings every year for retail and
wholesale markets. These
dedicated growers produce cactus
and succulent seedlings as readily
as bedding plants. Granted, the
hobbyist grower may not want
these quantities of seedlings but
they can produce quality seedlings
to offer other growers.

Cactus and succulents uses
Food
Ornamental Uses
Psychoactive
Other

Ornamental Uses
Rock Gardens

Ornamental Uses
Wall Gardens

Ornamental Uses
Ground Covers

Ornamental Uses
Hanging Plants

Ornamental Uses
Pots and Cups

Ornamental Uses
Flowering Plants

Ornamental Uses
KALANCHOE

Cactus and succulents

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