The Cactus is a plant that often has many little spines or needles covering its surface.
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Different Types of cactus
A cactus can be several different kinds of plants, like the Saguaro (Carnegiea Gigantea) and Barrel Cactuses (Ferocactus Wislizeni). They live in countries all over the world, including North America, South America, and parts of Asia. In Spanish speaking countries, there are at least 29 different words to describe a cactus.
In the United States , we have Saguaros that grow wild in Arizona . These kinds of Cactuses grow very tall and have big stems called trunks. The Spanish word for these types of Cactuses is the Nahuatl word ‘sahuaro’. There are also smaller Barrel Cactuses found all over Arizona . These cactuses look like big barrels with many spines. The Spanish word for these Barrel Cactuses is ‘acantho’.
The South American country of Chile has its own kind of Saguaros. These Cactuses are called ‘ cardones ‘. They can grow up to 20 feet tall and have a very thick trunk. The Spanish word for these kinds of Saguaros is ‘ cardón ‘.
The deserts of northern Mexico have many different kinds of Cactuses. One of the most famous is the ‘pitahaya’. This Cactus grows to be about eight feet tall and has small white flowers that open at night. The Spanish word for these kinds of Saguaros is ‘pitahaya’.
The cactus called the ‘ mezquite ‘ only grows in the desert areas of central Mexico . This Cactus can grow to be up to 25 feet tall. The Spanish word for this type of Cactus is ‘mezquite’.
In the South American countries of Peru and Venezuela , there is a kind of Cactus called the ‘ candelabro ‘. These cactuses can grow to be more than 25 feet tall. They have many branches that sometimes look like antlers growing up from the top of the stem. The Spanish word for this type of Cactus is ‘candelabro’.
There are many other kinds of cactuses found in different parts of the world. Each country has its own name for these plants. But no matter where they are found, they all have one thing in common – they are all beautiful!
In Mexico , there are other kinds of cactuses, such as the nopal . It is a kind of cactus found all over Mexic o and is eaten by Mexicans in dishes such as tacos . Nopales have leaves called paddles that grow from one flat stem and also grows small spines.
how to say cactus in spanish
The Spanish word for the paddle of a nopal cactus is ‘nopalea’, and the small spines are called ‘agujas’. There is also the cholla cactus . It has thin, jointed arms that grow from a large base. Chollas can have hundreds of arms, and each arm has rows of spines. The Spanish word for the arms of a cholla cactus is ‘chollas’, and the small spines are called ‘puntitas’.
There is also the prickly pear . It has many flat leaves that grow from a large round stem. Prickly pears have very sharp, yellow or red, barbed needles. The Spanish word for the leaves of a prickly pear cactus is ‘nopales’, and the barbed needles are called ‘espinas’.
In Puerto Rico , there is a kind of cactus that does not grow spines to protect itself from predators. Instead, it has very sharp, hard teeth that grow along its stems and can cut you if you grab it. This cactus is called the ‘ticas’ and the Spanish word for this cactus is ‘ticas’.
There are even more different kinds of Cactuses that grow all over the world. If you ever look at one, just remember that no matter what kind it may be, it’s still nice and beautiful.