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what is a cactus?

In article ,
(Geraldine Yellowhair) wrote:

what is a cactus?

The sound a cat makes getting rid of a hairball.

-paghat the ratgirl

--
"Of what are you afraid, my child?" inquired the kindly teacher.
"Oh, sir! The flowers, they are wild," replied the timid creature.
-from Peter Newell's "Wild Flowers"
Visit the Garden of Paghat the Ratgirl: http://www.paghat.com

Geraldine Yellowhair wrote:

what is a cactus?

1. Any plant in the family Cactaccae, generally native to the
western hemisphere. Sunset describes them as succulents, generally
leafless, with with herbaceous stems modified into cylinders or
pads that store water. Most (but not all) species have spines to
protect them against animals that would eat them to obtain the
stored moisture.

2. A most remarkable plant. "Cactus" is derived from "kacht es",
medieval high German for "it craps".

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David E. Ross
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"David Ross" wrote in message
...
Geraldine Yellowhair wrote:

what is a cactus?

[snip]

David you should suspect posts that are made from google groups, especially
simple questions or odd questions as being trolls.

Snooze

(Geraldine Yellowhair) wrote:

what is a cactus?

Any plant of the order {Cactac[ae]}, as the prickly pear and
the night-blooming cereus. See {Cereus}. They usually have
leafless stems and branches, often beset with clustered
thorns, and are mostly natives of the warmer parts of
America.

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All Cactaceae are native to the New World. Only Rhipsalis baccifera has been
established in the Old World tropics long enough to have discrete varieties
there.

Pereskia is the only non-succulent genus in the Cactaceae. They are woody
broad leafed shrubs to trees.

The order Cactales is no longer recognized. Cactaceae are now included in
the Caryophyllales.

The family Cactaceae is best distinguished in the order by the floral
bracts, sepaloid and petaloid tepals being spirally arranged rather than in
separate whorls and intergrading into one another. Also Cactaceae have
areoles (axillary buds filled with hairs instead of scales) but they are not
unique to the family. Areoles are also found in the Portulacaceae and
Didiereaceae.


"S. M. Henning" wrote in message
...
(Geraldine Yellowhair) wrote:

what is a cactus?

Any plant of the order {Cactac[ae]}, as the prickly pear and
the night-blooming cereus. See {Cereus}. They usually have
leafless stems and branches, often beset with clustered
thorns, and are mostly natives of the warmer parts of
America.

--
Pardon my spam deterrent; send email to
Cheers, Steve Henning in Reading, PA USA
http://home.earthlink.net/~rhodyman