Arizona Bug
by Dick Botkin
Title
Arizona Bug
Artist
Dick Botkin
Medium
Photograph
Description
This Barrel Cactus by the side of the road added it's color to the warm Spring Day. The wildflowers were blooming as well, making for a very lush desert scene. It was a perfect day for a cruise in a classic Volkswagen Bug.
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A cactus (plural: cacti, cactuses, or cactus is a member of the plant family Cactaceae, within the order Caryophyllales. The word "cactus" derives, through Latin, from the Ancient Greek êÜêôïò (kaktos), a name originally used for a spiny plant whose identity is not certain. 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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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. 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. Cactus spines are produced from specialized structures called areoles, a kind of highly reduced branch. Areoles are an identifying feature of cacti. As well as spines, areoles give rise to flowers, which are usually tubular and multipetaled.
Uploaded
September 6th, 2012
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