Flowering Cactus, Bolivia
by Venetia Featherstone-Witty
Title
Flowering Cactus, Bolivia
Artist
Venetia Featherstone-Witty
Medium
Photograph - Photographs
Description
On my trip to Bolivia we went to the Salar Uyuni where there is an island of cactus on the salt flats. 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.
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Uploaded
October 27th, 2017
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