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Cacti are succulent flower producing plants that belong to the Cactaceae family, which are almost exclusively found in the Americas. Their green stems (which get their color due to chlorophyll) are full of nutrients and water. Furthermore, cacti commonly have prickly spines and cushion-like areoles where flowers grow from.
Evolutionary History
Cacti evolved only some 30 million years ago as an adaptation to the rising aridity of the Americas. Due to their dry environments, cacti with high water and nutrient retention survived the changing climate. Diversification was quick to follow the cactus', with over 1750 species of cacti being found in North, South, and Central America.