The kingdom Plantae covers a range of plants, some are beautiful flowers while some are insect-eating carnivorous plants.Cacti plants come under the kingdom Plantae and clade Eudicots. Most cacti are found in arid areas or humid climates.The plant is known for its incredible trait of strong water and drought resistance qualities. Today cacti plants are common house plants, however in nature, they are found in very dry and challenging locations. Cacti species lives in areas where there is at least one drought per season, and their ability to store water in their stems helps them to survive. Cacti species depend on their root systems to survive, and they are close to the soil so help absorb as much moisture as possible.A cactus is a common home plant because it is a succulent, meaning that most plant owners can keep this plant alive for a long time! The reason why a cactus is a succulent is that its stem has the ability to store water for long periods. Its skin is also very specific. The skin of a cactus works in such a way that it stores moisture from the air and doesn’t let any water escape. The plant also has chlorophyll in its stems which helps it with photosynthesis. Some succulents are also used for eating. Although it’s common knowledge that a cactus is succulent, this does not mean that all cacti are edible.Some succulents are not edible and they have a very bitter taste. The cactus also is a flowering plant. There are thousands of species of cacti and almost all of them are different from one another. It’s not that difficult to identify a cactus because there are several physical appearances that make it easy for people to identify a cactus. A typical cactus has classic cactus thorns. These cacti thorns are like tiny barbs which grow on growing cacti. Although almost every succulent comes in a different shape and size, we can differentiate a cactus through its cactus spines and areoles. Areoles are found only in cacti. Areoles are small cushion-like round-shaped structures, and some cacti are able to grow flowers from these structures, while other species of cacti grow leaves.A cactus is also a very slow-growing plant and it needs direct sunlight. This plant makes an excellent outdoor plant. Some cacti have poison and there are a very few species of poisonous cacti. A cactus or their cactus spines are not edible. Once they are consumed they could be harmful to your health. Cacti spines lie on the outermost skin of the plant. The sole purpose of these spines is to protect the plant from predators, however, in some species, the spines can be soft as well. While there is no such thing as poisonous cacti, consuming a cactus can have side effects. Cactus spines can cause stomach aches and diarrhea. Some people also face skin irritation from the long spines because these spines serve the sole purpose of protecting the cactus from predators. However, the majority of the cacti that we see around us aren’t not poisonous. Only a small majority of the species are considered toxic, however they only can cause serious injuries.If you enjoyed this article, why not also read about are cacti succulents and are cacti trees here on Kidadl?Are cactus pricks poisonous?Every plant has a defense mechanism. When it comes to a cactus, its spines and throne protect it from predators or animals which may kill the plant.Even though cactus plants are not poisonous, that doesn’t mean that the entire plant is healthy and safe to consume. The barrel cactus is one excellent example of a cactus plant that you need to stay away from. The barrel cactus comes with a toxic white sap which is present in the ribs of the plant. This sap can also cause skin irritation for most people, so these cacti should not be touched. The thorns however are not poisonous, but they do have secrete a liquid that can irritate human skin.A peyote cactus is also another species that is known to cause side effects. The peyote cactus isn’t poisonous but can cause harm. They do not have any spines and grow on the western slopes. These cacti are used by North Americans in rituals and when consumed by humans or animals, they can cause hallucinations. Even though these cactus spines are not harmful and do not contain any toxins, the spines can cause harm if they cut through the tissue and cause bleeding. There are some cactus plants. such as the cholla cactus, which are even capable of throwing their spines when feeling threatened. Their spikes contain toxic and several liquids that can cause serious irritation.Are Christmas cacti poisonous to dogs?Cacti are very popular and are one of the most adored house plants. They can be found in almost every house, however, when we combine plants with pets, certain steps need to be taken to protect pets. A Christmas cactus is a very popular plant species. However Christmas cacti are not real cacti. Some houseplants and famous flowering plants, such as French tulips, are known to be toxic for cats therefore it’s important to know if a plant is toxic before bringing it into your home.Christmas cacti are not poisonous. They do not have any kind of toxins and are safe. Nonetheless, this Christmas plant which is a relative of the famous Easter cactus is a festive plant that needs to be handled properly. Even though the flowers or the spines of these plants are not poisonous, they are a fibrous species, meaning these cacti are. not edible. If the plant is consumed by your pet, it could cause your pet to fall sick. The plant material can cause inflammation in the stomach and this problem can even travel to your pet’s intestine. You might see your pet vomiting or experiencing several stomach issues such as regular diarrhea if it consumes this plant.they aren’t toxic, other plants such as the poinsettia do have toxic parts. Some other cactus species such as the San Pedro cactus are not as gentle as the Christmas cactus. The San Pedro cactus is common in lots of households, although they are illegal in some places. They are legal to grow in some parts of the world. This plant has toxic substances and it is illegal to consume in many states. Their toxicity is the result of mescaline. In the past, mescaline was extracted from the plant and was orally consumed. It caused delusions and is widely toxic to humans. It is illegal to consume this plant and should be kept away from animals as this species is poisonous and can cause various health problems.Are cactus needles poisonous?Cactus thorns are one of the first things we notice about this plant. Cactus thorns are present in order to protect the plant.In the wild, cacti are often consumed by people who live in the desert. As the plant can store water, some people consume them when in compromising situations. While some succulents such as aloe vera are edible, some other succulents are not edible. Cactus spines are not poisonous, and cactus thorns are also not poisonous. However, like cactus thorns, the spines also carry the purpose of protecting the plant from predators or from getting eaten. Although some cacti contain toxic substances which when consumed can cause numerous health problems in both animals and humans. The same is not true about cactus thorns because they are not poisonous. Some cactus species have thorns covered with specific liquids which can cause skin irritation and can send you to the hospital.Even if the thorns are not poisonous, they can cause a lot of damage. If you get pricked by the throne and this cut is deep enough, it may tear through the tissue. If the thorns get inside the tissue of delicate organs, they might cause more damage than predicted. If cactus thorns get inside the tissue, the wise decision would be to quickly and gently take them out. However, you should also make sure you make an appointment with a doctor or go to the hospital. Keeping the thorns inside can invite a lot of other problems and can cause infections. Taking out the thorns gently, and then examining the area can help you inspect the damage. In case a cactus throne gets inside your skin, it’s best to take out the thorns first before damaging other nearby tissues and washing the area, making sure to not leave the throne inside. Otherwise, it might cause other infections.Will cactus needles fall out on their own?There are some cacti species that can throw their thrones on you when feeling threatened.The cholla cactus is one such species that is capable of shooting its needles. They contain toxins that are capable of inflaming the skin barrier and causing skin irritation. Liquids such as latex can work their way inside your skin and can result in inflammation. Their spikes are poisonous and can cause several health problems. However, there are ways through which we can safeguard ourselves in case we get hit by a cactus needle. The most common way is that our skin usually eliminates foreign materials by shedding, the body sometimes also forms a little red bump across the infected area. The same works in order to drain out foreign materials such as the needle. Another way to remove them would be to physically removing them using tweezers. Some cacti species have fragile needles which might not be able to be removed. If the case is very tricky, it is best to visit a doctor and let the experts handle the matter.Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for Are cacti poisonous? Curious cactus species facts revealed! then why not take a look at Pistol shrimp vs mantis shrimp smack down: here’s the winner!, or Ghost shrimp lifespan: fin-tastic freshwater fish facts revealed!
The kingdom Plantae covers a range of plants, some are beautiful flowers while some are insect-eating carnivorous plants.
