Cactus biology

From fruit to young cactus. How Rhipsalis colonises tree crowns

Small Rhipsalis fruits begin a process in which bird behaviour meets seed physiology. Transport to a branch, removal from the pulp, access to light and continued moisture govern successive stages of establishment. Studies of different species reveal how readily success at one stage can be interrupted by conditions at the next [Guaraldo et al. 2013] [Schlumpberger et al. 2006] [Lone et al. 2016] [Gonçalo et al. 2026] [Tortorelli et al. 2025] [Taylor et al. 2026a].

Hidden diversity in Eriosyce. DNA, geography and pollinators in species recognition

Similar globose cacti in central Chile represent distinct evolutionary lineages. Revision of the former Eriosyce curvispina complex shows how genetic evidence, morphology and reproductive biology reshape species boundaries and conservation priorities [Guerrero et al. 2019] [Villalobos-Barrantes et al. 2022] [Walter et al. 2024] [Guerrero et al. 2016] [Cádiz-Véliz et al. 2021] [Cuartas-Domínguez et al. 2022] [Guerrero et al. 2025].

From seed to seedling in Stenocereus

Stenocereus seeds and seedlings differ in the timing of development, persistence in soil and responses to water deficit. Three studies connect the fate of seeds with maturation of the tissues and metabolism of a young cactus [Álvarez-Espino et al. 2014] [Casillas-Álvarez et al. 2018] [Ayala-Cordero et al. 2006].

From seedling to pendent shoot. Development in epiphytic cacti

A small epiphytic cactus seedling undergoes a series of changes involving its root, cotyledons, first ribs and shoot tissues. Later, young terminal segments and older regions supporting the branched plant develop different structures. Studies of Lepismium, Rhipsalis, Hatiora and Epiphyllum trace these stages and explain why the age of the sampled region matters in anatomy and taxonomy [Secorun and Souza 2011] [Lemos and Melo-de-Pinna 2011] [Lombardi 2014].

The Pachycereus pringlei root. Growth that ends in differentiation

The primary root of a young Pachycereus pringlei elongates for a limited period. Cells at its apex gradually shift from division to differentiation, while the root system develops further branches. Microscopy and RNA analysis reveal two levels of organization in this process and the influence of water availability on its timing. [Dubrovsky and Gómez-Lomelí 2003] [Rodriguez-Alonso et al. 2018]

Pterocereus gaumeri. From a nocturnal flower to an established seedling

Pterocereus gaumeri combines nocturnal pollination with substantial losses of young fruits and seedlings. Studies of two Yucatán populations show that persistence of this rare cactus depends on a sequence of events extending from pollen exchange to adult survival. [Méndez et al. 2005] [Méndez et al. 2004]

Peniocereus greggii seeds. Age, temperature and the start of growth

Peniocereus greggii seeds collected in 2016 germinated more successfully in an experiment than material collected in 2022. This difference raises questions about after-ripening while also requiring consideration of the history of each lot. A study published in 2026 helps distinguish the roles of seed age, temperature and treatments that damage the seed coat. [Loweree-Rivera et al. 2026a]

Mycorrhizal fungi in landscapes of cacti and traditional crops

Beneath a tree canopy and within a patch of native vegetation, a cactus root environment differs from adjacent open ground. Two Mexican studies examine these relationships through mycorrhizal fungi. One compares cactus roots in Sonora, the other fungal communities in the soil of traditional milpa-chichipera in the Tehuacán-Cuicatlán Valley. Together they show how retaining vegetation is associated with biological diversity below ground. [Blanco-Valenzuela et al. 2024] [Jiménez-Martínez et al. 2026]

Domestication of Polaskia chichipe in a landscape connected by pollen

In the Tehuacán Valley, wild Polaskia chichipe, plants retained in fields and cacti cultivated in gardens form a connected population system. People select plants with desirable fruits, while pollinators carry pollen among their growing sites. Studies of reproduction and offspring paternity show how selection operates in a landscape that maintains gene flow. [Otero-Arnaiz et al. 2003] [Otero-Arnaiz et al. 2005]

Cardón seeds sheltered by iguana droppings

An animal eating a fruit begins several successive stages in the lives of its seeds. They pass through the digestive tract, reach a new location and await conditions suitable for germination. On San Esteban Island, Pachycereus pringlei seeds also receive a covering of iguana feces. Experiments by Salinas and Reynoso show how a cost of digestion can coexist with a benefit under intense sunlight. [Salinas and Reynoso 2023]

How seabirds nourish island forests of cardón

On desert islands in the Gulf of California, Pachycereus pringlei sometimes forms dense stands. Part of the nitrogen used by these cacti originates in a marine food web. Fish supply it to birds, birds deposit guano, and roots absorb nutrients released into soil. Stable isotopes make it possible to trace this connection between the sea and the columnar stems of cardón. [Wilder et al. 2022]

Three sexual forms of cardón and two ways of visiting a flower

Pachycereus pringlei combines unusual variation in plant sexual forms with pollination by animals that forage in different ways. Field studies distinguish floral function, pollen delivery and visitation frequency. Each level reveals a different part of reproduction in this desert giant. [Fleming et al. 1994] [Frick et al. 2013]