WHAT IS A CACTUS? P 
The thousands of plants known as Succulents include those 
strangely unique forms which, through evolution, have adapt- 
ed themselves to resist or survive long periods of drought. 
These plants, in the distant past, had leaves and flourished 
as do other plants living under conditions where the ex- 
tremes of dryness are not as pronounced. As certain areas 
became hotter and dryer these plants changed their forms 
and the leaves were modified in thickened bodies hardly 
recognizable as leaves. Many plants gave up their leaves 
altogether and the leave functions were transferred to swol- 
len stems and were replaced by defensive spines. By re- 
ducing the leaf surface, the moisture usually given off was 
reduced to a minimum. The plant bodies became covered with 
a waxy coating, hairs, and other specialized evaporation re- 
sisting coverings for the protection of these succulents until 
the next rains, which were readily absorbed and _ retained 
through the dry seasons. 
Succulents are found in many plant families growing in 
all parts of the world, from high barren mountain slopes to 
arid wastes. Among the succulents is a group of plants called 
Cactus (cacti, meaning several and pronounced  kak-tie). 
The Cactus family is the only group all of which are succu- 
lents. Whereas the other succulens are found in Africa and 
many other countries, cacti are all native to the Americas, 
where they have attained a most unusual variety of forms and 
defensive armour, yet produce flowers which rival the orchids. 
Other plants have spines or thorns but a characteristic of 
the cactus is its spine-cushion bearing spines or bristly hairs. 
Cacti range in size from the Giants of Arizona weighing tons 
to the Button Cactus the size of a penny. The diversified 
forms are interesting for themselves but tne beautiful flowers 
are beyond description. Anyone is challenged to obtain a few 
plants and to enjoy the thrill of seeing the contrasting beauty 
which can be found in no other forms of plant life. 

Echinopsis is one of the finest flowering cacti 
The growing of cacti and the other succulents has long 
passed the stage of a fad. They have become well-known 
throughout the world where they thrive and respond to care- 
ful treatment, thus proving that cacti are not living in arid 
deserts because they want to, but from necessity. 
