> Which type of plant has over 1,750 types of species, with all but one native tothe Americas?And the answer is: cactus.Photo credit: ShutterstockCacti are native to the Americas, ranging from partsof Canada in the north, down to Patagonia in South America. The one exception isthe type commonly known as mistletoe cactus which also grows in Africa and inSri Lanka.Did you know all cacti are succulents, but not all succulents are cacti? Thoughthe terms are often used interchangeably, cacti are technically in a subgroup ofsucculents and can be distinguished by the presence of small cushion-likestructures called areoles. These structures make it possible for the spines andbranches to grow on the cactus, which is their primary form of self defense.Areoles are only present on cacti. Cacti have many uses. In most cases they are cultivated as ornamentals andpopular for their low necessity for water or maintenance, but many varieties ofcacti are enjoyed as food, fuel, or even medicine. One variety has been usedsince pre-Colombian times for its ceremonial hallucinogenic properties.Though it may be an ancient plant with some spiritual properties, today thecacti is more popular than ever. Check out this article[https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/24/science/cactus-superbloom-spring.html] fromthe New York Times for more up-to-date discoveries on the remarkable propertiesof cacti.