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What’s The Difference Between Cactus vs Succulents

By definition, succulent plants are drought-resistant plants. Succulents are a diverse group of plants that have adapted to survive in arid environments by storing water in their leaves, stems, or roots. They can be found all over the world, from deserts to forests to coastal regions, and come in a wide variety of shapes, sizes, and colors.


While a cactus is a type of succulent plant that belongs to the family Cactaceae. It is native to the Americas and is most commonly found in desert and semi-desert regions, although some species can also be found in tropical or subtropical areas.


While all cacti are succulents, not all succulent plants are cacti.

This means that cacti are a specific type of succulent that have certain physical characteristics, while other succulent plants can have different characteristics and come from a variety of plant families.


The main differences between a cacti and other succulents are:


  1. Appearance: Cacti are often characterized by their prickly or spiny appearance, while other succulents may have smooth leaves or stems. Cacti also come in a wider variety of shapes, such as globular, columnar, or flat.

  2. Origins: Cacti are native to the Americas, while other succulents can be found all over the world.

  3. Growth habits: Cacti often have a distinctive growth pattern, such as branching from a single stem, while other succulents may have a more sprawling growth habit.

  4. Flowers: Cacti are known for their showy, brightly colored flowers, which bloom in a variety of shapes and sizes.

  5. Adaptations: Both cacti and other succulents are adapted to survive in arid environments, but cacti have a few unique adaptations, such as their ability to open their stomata at night to reduce water loss during the day. Additionally, cacti often have a waxy coating on their skin to help retain moisture. Cacti are known for their ability to store water in their stems, while succulents often store water in their leaves or roots.


To summarize, there are a lot of differences between these two plants but the most distinct of them all is that succulent plants are a group of plants while a cactus is a type of succulent plant or is part of the succulent group. All cacti are succulent plants, but not all succulent plants are cacti. Succulent plants come from a variety of plant families and can have different physical characteristics and growth habits depending on their species.

 

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