The Internet is full of photos and articles about beautiful mountains, places, movies, etc. But, unfortunately, they write so little about unusually beautiful things. For example, about cacti.
The family of these exotic plants has almost three thousand species. Surprisingly, they have such a common trait as origin. They all come from America. Extreme conditions are not a problem for them at all. They store water and have a thickened layer of skin, which allows them not to lose moisture and be able to be even in very hot and dry places on the planet.
However, even among such unusual plants, there are even more unique ones. In this article we will tell you about the most beautiful cacti in the world. So let's go!
Astrophytum Medusa Head
It has a unique shape, grows like snake hair of a jellyfish. The seeds of this plant are quite large, since their diameter is from 3 to 6 millimeters. And the flowers have a typical color for this species - yellow with a red spot in the center.
Lofofora Williams or Peyote
The plant, which has the shape of a ball, its diameter reaches only 8 centimeters. Such a cactus cannot be bought and grown at home. Cultivation is prohibited by law, since Peyote contains a rather high concentration of mescaline (a substance with a psychedelic effect). But, given the fact that the Lofofor Williams cactus for a long time played an important role in the rituals of the Indian tribes, only members of these population groups are allowed to officially use this plant.
Hilocereus undulate
This species is famous for its unusually beautiful flowers. Few perceive cacti as flowers. But looking at the undulating guillocereus, you can once and for all change this point of view. The length of the flower reaches almost forty centimeters, and the diameter is 25 centimeters. A feature of this species is that it blooms exclusively at night, each flower of the plant opens only once.
Flowers radiate an incredibly pleasant vanilla scent. True, you need to take into account that the aroma is pleasant only at a distance, since when you smell it directly, it can be unbearable. Pictures that can be found on the Internet do not convey all the beauty of this plant, therefore, to fully enjoy its beauty you can only live.
Pereskiopsis spathulata
It is one of the cacti that grow very quickly. It is even used as a vaccination base in order to increase the growth rate of seedlings of slowly growing species. This species is primitive in appearance. From one and the same place he grows thorns and leaves. Therefore, it is most often used from a practical point of view.
Underground Turbinicarpus
Atypical, but beautiful cactus, since above the surface of the earth you can see only small heads that resemble a bat in shape. However, underground, it has roots that have the ability to store water and help the plant survive periods of drought. And in the cold season, the cactus is frost-resistant due to its underground location.
Dwarf blossomfeldia
It is the smallest of all cacti on the planet. Dwarf blossomfeldia grows from the hollow, which is located in the center of the plant, due to which a beautiful pattern appears in the process of its growth. This plant blooms in the warm season - in the summer, fertilizes on its own, produces seeds. True, they are too small in size, therefore often merge with the sand.
Those who decide to plant such a cactus in a pot at home will have to be patient. Since dwarf blossomfeldia is a very slow-growing plant.
Home flowering cacti:
Schlumbergera
People call it "Christmas" or "Decembrist." This is how the cactus was nicknamed due to the fact that it is during the Christmas holidays that it blooms. The color palette is quite diverse. Convenient is the fact that this plant does not need direct sunlight and is content with moderately moist soil.
Ripsalis
This species is not like a regular cactus. It has the appearance of branching, succulent shoots of green-yellow color. The stems have aerial roots, which are capable of absorbing moisture directly from atmospheric air. Cactus fruits have the appearance of very medium-sized berries with a large number of black seeds. Blooms in the cold season with white, yellow or pink flowers.
Echinopsis
The most common among cacti grown at home. It is completely unpretentious and is a very diverse species in its shapes and sizes. It is popular for its beautiful and large-sized flowers. Petals can be arranged in several rows and painted in white, yellow, pink, orange and purple shades. The plant blooms from spring, flowering can last up to six months.
Epiphyllum
It blooms mainly in the warm season and has beautiful and massive flowers of various shades, the diameter of which is ten centimeters, and sometimes exceeds it. Even growing a cactus at home in a pot with artificial cross-pollination of flowers, you can get such large fruits whose flesh is edible and has a sweet pineapple-strawberry flavor.
Notocactus
A plant that has a spherical shape. It blooms quite richly and often. The flower itself is multi-petal in the form of a bell or funnel. Color can be red, yellow or orange, while the base of the petals are always more contrasting or more saturated in color. You need to plant a cactus in a well-lit place with direct sunlight.
Sulkorebuciya
Miniature representatives of cacti. The main requirement in culture is a lot of light. Since with a lack of it, the plants stretch out and cease to bloom. The plant overwinters at a temperature of 6-11 degrees with virtually no watering. Sulkorebutsiya has a large number of thin spines, large and bright flowers are variable in color.
Mammillaria
Small plants with shoots resembling clubs. Their peculiarity lies in the characteristic structure - in the form of numerous papillae, which can grow, forming colonies.
Therefore, you need to plant such a plant in wide and flat pots. They have high variability of various shades of flowers, which usually bloom in March, forming a kind of crown around the upper part of the stem.
Parody of Subterrania
This species, by all accounts, is almost completely hidden under the soil (in the environment) and is extremely difficult to find in nature if it does not bloom.
The stalk of a cactus has a spherical shape (sometimes slightly elongated vertically), rarely branches. Size: 6-12 cm in diameter.
With proper care, this cactus will delight you with its pleasant flowering.
Conclusions
There are many different types of cacti on the planet. Each of them is unique in its own way and is able to endure the most severe climatic conditions in order to give a peculiar beauty in the place where no other plant can do it.