The cactus is a succulent plant native almost entirely to the Americas, where about 1,750 species are known. It stores water in a thickened stem and survives in deserts thanks to a special photosynthesis cycle that opens pores in its stem only at night to reduce water loss. The spines are modified leaves — they protect the cactus from animals and shade the stem from harsh sun. The saguaro cactus of the Sonoran Desert can grow over 12 meters tall and live more than 150 years. Coloring page of three potted cactus plants — a tall columnar saguaro-style, a round barrel cactus with a flower on top, and a prickly pear with two oval pads — each in a patterned terracotta pot.
