MY PAINTINGS OF CACTI FLOWERS- Chirasri Jayaweera Bandara

MY PAINTINGS OF CACTI FLOWERS

Chirasri Jayaweera Bandara

Cactus is a member of the plant family Cactaceae. They are succulent perennial plants. Cacti generally have thick herbaceous or woody chlorophyll-containing stems. Flowering plants with 2000 species.

Cacti are native to North and South America, British Columbia, Alberta, Chili, Argentina and Mexico.

Few Tropical and Sub Tropical in dry zones.

Cacti can be distinguished from other succulent plants by the presence of areoles, small cushion-like structures with trichomes ( plant hairs ) and in almost all species, spines or barbed bristles (glochids )

Areoles are modified branches, from which flowers, more branches and leaves (when present) may grow.

In most species, leaves are absent, greatly reduced as modified spines, minimizing the amount of surface area from water can be lost, and the stem has taken Photosynthesis functions of the plant.

The root systems are generally thin fibrous and shallow ranging widely to absorb superficial moisture.

Ball Cactus  (Left)                                                          

Native to Central South America. Life span 10 to 200 years

Sea Urchin or Hedgehog Cactus (Right)

Native to South America, Growing up to 5 feet in height. Bloom with flowers that open during the evening. Flowers last only a  day.       

Organ Pipe Cactus   (Top Left)                                               

Gets its name from the slender curving vertical Stems which resemble the large pipes of an old Fashioned organ. Usually grows to a height of about 15 to 20 feet. Life span over 150 years.  

Torch Cactus or Ribbed cactus  (Top Right)

Found in South America. Stems may grow in clusters reaching a height 2 feet tall making it a columnar cactus. The radial spines are 1.5 inches long, with a Mature plant with 12-15 ribs

The large flowers come in a wide range of Brilliant colour combinations rivalling those of Orchid Cacti.

Range of Cactus Flowers

 

Blue Cactus

Columnar cacti called Pilosocereus that are so Vibrant and blue that you almost believe they’re real……

They often have contrasting orange spines too, which makes them look even more beautiful and unreal.

Native to Central and Northan Mexico. Found in Brazil and the Caribbean.

Flowers white and white yellow. Mature size 6 to 12 feet tall 2 to 4 feet wide.

The more the sun bluer the stem.

Leaf cactus 

(Genius Epiphyllum) also called Orchid Cactus (family Cactaceae) native to tropical and subtropical America, including West Indies.

The plants are mostly epiphytic (grow on other plants) but sometimes grow on the ground.

Christmas Cactus

These are prolific bloomers and produce flowers pink or lilac at the end of leaves. Each flower lasts for 5 to 7 days, the plant may survive for decades.

Starfish flower Cactus

It is native to South Africa.  May produce amazing five-petaled flowers that exude a rather unpleasant odour. The scent attracts flies.