Cactus , family Cactaceae , plural cacti or cactuses , flowering plant family order Caryophyllales with nearly 2, species and genera. Cacti are native through most of the length of North and South America, from British Columbia and Alberta southward; the southernmost limit of their range extends far into Chile and Argentina. Mexico has the greatest number and variety of species. Although a few cactus species inhabit tropical or subtropical areas, most live in and are well adapted to dry regions. See also list of plants in the family Cactaceae. Cacti are succulent perennial plants.

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Physical characteristics
See also Classification of the Cactaceae. A cactus plural cacti , cactuses , or less commonly, cactus [3] is a member of the plant family Cactaceae , [Note 1] a family comprising about genera with some known species of the order Caryophyllales. 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.
They require some caution when handling, but these super low maintenance plants can thrive indoors with bright sun, little water, and proper drainage. As the stunning products of harsh, arid climates, cacti are both the pinnacle of succulent perfection for enthusiasts and easy-to-grow starter plants for beginners. Cactaceae is the largest botanical family of succulents, with over 1, species, all native to the Americas. They have ancient origins in evolutionary history and are adapted to diverse, arid climates including deserts, alpine regions, grasslands, and tropical forests. In some ways, they are the ultimate succulent, tolerating the harshest climates with extensive droughts, torrential rainstorms, hot, sunny days, and frigid nights. We love that they are both a practical, architectural choice for waterwise landscaping and a charming window sill plant that will occasionally reward with a giant, showy flower. They maximize water efficiency by forgoing leaves in favor of water-storing stems.