Cacti are some of the most clever and resilient species on this planet. How do we know? Just look at them! Every feature, from skin to spines, is a representation of the species leveraging their suffering and turning it to their advantage. I imagine they take great pride in themselves when compared to the rest of the plant species out there... with their silky soft petals, that shrivel up like a desiccated mummy after a mere two hours in the sun.
In this blog post, we'll take a moment to admire how cacti handled being snubbed by the pollinators they used to rely on and evolved to propagate themselves if need be (thereby snubbing the birds and the bees right back).
What is Cactus Propagation?
Cactus propagation refers to the process by which cacti reproduce and create new plants. Unlike many other plants that rely on seeds for reproduction, cacti have developed various methods to propagate themselves, allowing them to reproduce even in the most challenging conditions.
Evolutionary Adaptations
1. Stem Cuttings
One common method of cactus propagation is through stem cuttings. Cacti have the ability to grow new roots and shoots from cut stems, allowing them to create new plants from existing ones. This adaptation is particularly useful in environments where seeds may not have a high chance of germination due to the lack of water or nutrients. Imagine someone cut off your arm and out of it grew a new YOU.
2. Offsets
Many cacti species produce offsets, also known as "pups". These are small, genetically identical plants that grow from the base of the parent plant. Offsets are essentially clones of the parent plant and can be easily separated and replanted to create new individuals. Imagine you woke up one morning and a miniature version of you was growing out of your big toe.
3. Adventitious (Aerial) Roots
Some cacti species have evolved adventitious, or aerial roots, which are roots that grow from above the ground. These roots can develop into new plants when they come into contact with the soil, allowing the cactus to propagate itself even if the main stem is damaged or detached. Imagine falling over and not being able to get back up (Life Alert anyone?), so you grew many more legs along your side and walked to the store.
4. Seed Dispersal
While cacti may not rely heavily on seeds for propagation, they still keep this method in their back pockets for a rainy day. Cactus seeds are often contained within colorful fruits that are attractive to animals. When animals consume the fruits, they disperse the seeds through their droppings, helping the cacti colonize new areas.
What Did We Learn?
There is only ONE way many species can reproduce, but not true for the cactus. The cactus has adapted such that if you cut it to bits, it comes back in hoards; or if you push it down, it happily finds new roots.
Next time you come across a cactus, take a moment to appreciate how clever it is to have identified that self-improvement, innovation, invention and even evolution itself are born from the things that hurt us first.
Be Patient, Be Resilient, #bethecactus