Nature's fortress: How cacti keep water in and predators out - Lucas C. Majure

Discover the adaptations that allow cacti to not only survive, but thrive, in some of the harshest desert climates on Earth.
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If you were a jackrabbit in the desert, you’d be glad to stumble across a cactus: the flesh of these plants is a water source for many animals. Known for their spines and succulent stems, cacti of all shapes and sizes have evolved to not just survive, but thrive, in some of the harshest desert climates on Earth. So how do they do it? Lucas C. Majure shares the prickly plant’s unique adaptations.
Lesson by Lucas C. Majure, directed by Joseph Clark, Oh Studio.
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Animator's website: ohstudio.co.uk
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Thank you so much to our patrons for your support! Without you this video would not be possible! Sonja Worzewski, Amy, Michael Clement, Ghaith Tarawneh, Nathan Milford, Tomas Beckett, Alice Ice, Eric Berman, Kurt Paolo Sevillano, Ron Kakar, Jennifer Heald, Megulo Abebe, TAO7CADENCE, Olympia Buckingham, isolwi, Vedasheersh, Michael Chang, Waqar Sheikh, Irene Y., Kate Sem, VPpurplebelt, Ujjwal Dasu, Angel Alberici, Minh Quan Dinh, Sylvain, JasonD, Terran Gimpel, Talia Sari, Katie McDowell, Allen, Sarat Chandra Vegunta, Mahina Knuckles, Charmaine Hanson, Thawsitt, Jezabel, Abdullah Abdulaziz, Adriano Fontes, Xiao Yu, Melissa Suarez, SpartacusDMR, Brian A. Dunn, Francisco Amaya, Daisuke Goto, Matt Switzler, Leonardo Monrroy, Maryam, Bethany Connor, Jeremy Shimanek, Mark Byers and Avinash Amarnath.

[@ketsuekikumori9145]

I never would've suspected a cactus living in a rainforest. It makes sense in retrospect. You have so much competition in a rainforest, that you have to find niches to survive. And rainforests are fantastic at producing niches for all life.

[@damanycalder9628]

Fun fact Dragonfruit is a tropical epiphytic cactus

[@kristianwilliams441]

It's astonishing just how far north cacti can survive. The eastern prickly pear cactus, Opuntia humifusa, makes it all the way up into southern Ontario!

[@austrianshaman]

Yes exactly! I have one in my garden here in Vienna Austria and well the lowest it will get here is at most about -18°C if that at all in very cold winters but many others can be grown far north too like Cylindropuntia imbricata or in some cases even Opuntia ficus indica

[@eustacebagge7831]

I pickle cactus in the spring when the prickly pears make new pads. They're good for your guts. The berries they make are the favorite food of our tortoises in texas.

[@aschleym5086]

I live in Coyanosa, Texas. We have stepped on, sat on (oh my 😳), and even eaten the cacti! Love this little snip-bit of info!! Thank you, @TED-Ed

[@Alkalus]

What does cactus taste like?

[@mauricioguerra7955]

aueno pa saber

[@organicmagic8822]

@@Alkalus It has a lemony taste

[@JP-br4mx]

isn't it bitter

[@samuraiboi2735]

@@organicmagic8822 wait so its sour but also lemony?

[@douglasphillips5870]

I would never have guessed cactus pickers had an insulating quality.

[@rohankudale1620]

Your comment just spoiled the video for me

[@Ninjaananas]

Cacti also sometimes have some sort of fur.

[@Ashkanman]

@@rohankudale1620 watch the video before reading the comments then? lmao

[@scp--un6pg]

@@rohankudale1620 can't blame others for your own mistakes smh

[@DoctorX17]

@@Ninjaananas I love petting soft cacti

[@andresibarra9914]

here in Jalisco (central west Mexico), there are large 6 meters tall cactus in the middle of the temperate oak and pine forests that dominate most of the state, there are also different cacti species in the coastal jungles, swamps, and mangroves, on the northernmost savannas and scrubland and even some species live in the harsh mountains and rare cloud forests. I remember one time when one of my dad's friends that were from Spain was visiting him here in Jalisco he could barely believe seeing giant cacti in the middle of a temperate forest. Cacti are amazing overall!

[@tangleknotlightstep]

You really need to do a video on the 3 types of photosynthesis. CAM photosynthesis is unique to cacti, and the main reason why these plants can survive these dry conditions.

[@autumn_nights392]

So true! It’s so interesting!

[@rleoncuevas]

Bromeliads also use CAM photosynthesis.

[@tangleknotlightstep]

@@rleoncuevas Fair. I debated on saying CAM is unique to cactus... In the world of plants nothing is absolute. Heck, when I was propagating switchgrass, I had plants within the same species were C3 and C4!

[@seiyuokamihimura5082]

This is one of the many reasons i said he covered too much, but none of it well. Just vague, broad statements that CAN be true of cacti. And that's more a 50/50.

[@samuelruiz7377]

Yup just mentioned this and saw your comment they mentioned that their pores remain closed during the day but didn't go into detail about it

[@AverytheCubanAmerican]

This post was sponsored by Cactus Juice *Drink Cactus Juice! It'll quench ya! Nothing's quenchier. IT'S THE QUENCHIEST!*

[@Hatfright]

Ah, I should've look into comments before posting mine xD

[@snatchX626]

ah, a man of culture.

[@claudekim7876]

peyote is what i assumed it was, but it looks like a gord in the show. also peyote is extremely bitter and dont grow in sand deserts

[@doge2524]

Nice avatar reference

[@blockyhour4224]

S m o o t h

[@difficult1003]

My favorite plant is a cactus. Don't know why. Straight from childhood. 🌵🌵🌵🌵🌵🌵🌵🌵🌵🌵

[@MuhammadHanif-bx4pb]

they are indeed oddly amazing.

[@arianadouglas3181]

Same! Ever since I first saw one when I was 3😭

[@dababy4495]

I hate your opinion

[@KaylaPearlCPNinja]

I live in Phoenix, Arizona, which is part of the desert area that they mention in this video. I’m very accustomed to seeing various types of cacti. In fact, the Saguaro cactus bloom is the state flower of Arizona.

[@PasleyAviationPhotography]

Greetings from sunnyslope 👋

[@Thekeshavkafle]

The animation and story telling are so in sync … great job!

[@Hazy_Heart]

I really like the art & animation of this video, hope to see more :)

[@dababy4495]

No one cares shut up

[@oopsy444]

I'd love an extended animated episode (15+ mins) on on this cactus topic explaining this more in depth.

[@StAu8390]

Having difficulty of sleeping right now and been listening to old Ted-Ed videos with Addison's narrations. Thanks for the immediate response. HAHA

[@aditisk99]

He's the best narrator!

[@nailsbykkakes]

The cactus has always been my favorite plant ever since I could remember. Not sure why but wow how amazing they are

[@miyorii31]

I wish the botany class of my college were as interesting as the video is .

[@greglinski2208]

When my son was about 11 years old he entered a Jaycee Relay Race. He’d never ran track before and didn’t know everybody wore shorts. He came in jeans, to everyone’s amusement. He ran the last leg for his team - and came away the fastest runner of the day, and made up considerable distance to win. This video made me think of that day. How I wish I had been able to see it, instead of only hear and read about it. I was a single mom and had to work. My son was an amazing athlete. ❤️

[@DWreck958]

Dr. Lucas Majure has helped me personally with my O. polyacantha discovery in Ontario, Canada. His research on the genre has inspired my conservation and rehabiliation work. Thank you so much Dr. Majure for this Ted Talk. Have been waiting years for this. TED-Ed please have Dr Majure on again to do a presentation on cactus identifications. - Ottawa Cacti and Succulent Sanctuary 💚🌵🌿

[@sabreenahrochelle3989]

Love the cactus with the glasses 🥺

[@-ETER-]

This explains why Mexican/Mesoamerican cuisine is probably the only one that uses cacti. It even has an important role symbolically as you can obviously tell by the Mexican flag. There’s nothing like eating nopales, corazones, injertos, xoconoxtle, and tunas. Especially with a molcajete of salsa roja asada and tortillas.

[@onobonono]

I like tacos

[@Random-sk6hm]

mmm that sounds so nice can I have some 🥺

[@mrunankkuhikar5723]

I find this channel most informative in all spheres and fields. Keep going! It's a kind of relaxation when I watch your videos! ♥️

[@Abyssal2808]

I used to live in Arizona, where all sorts of cacti lived. They really are pretty!

[@aiswaryav614]

Narrator's voice is soothing 😀

[@DreamDaddie]

Trippy. My grandpa had my brothers and i ‘hug’ a saguaro cactus once when in was 8. I always wondered how they stay so green in such a dry place

[@thenightmarewizardcat]

Oh, so you write it saguaro! I just transcribed all this video for some English activity and I wrote it as 'sewaro'. In my defense, I didn't know how to write it.

[@DreamDaddie]

@@thenightmarewizardcat honestly, I’m only guessing on how it was spelled. I remember my grandfather pronouncing it that way and just assumed, that was 27 years ago. Not entirely sure if I spelled it right either

[@CRLAnimation1]

As usual, loved watching this!

[@viniciusgama4796]

What a superb video. Thank you for making it, I'll use it my science class about adaptations.

[@KxNOxUTA]

I knew some of this but the prarts about them opening up pores at night and some other inner workings of them were new! Thanks a lot!

[@with-jan-mohammad]

Definitely this channel makes great videos

[@Mswordx23]

Camels: Interesting. Anyway, **CHOMP**

[@jangreygarin3107]

I've been waiting for this as a desert collector

[@DeltaDemon1]

Thank you for not making this vid click bait. I've seen too many vids where they state the REAL reason for something and it's exactly what you'd expect adding no new information.

[@LiIGremlin]

Love the artstyle 💜

[@earthling_parth]

A small confusion/correction at 00:56 - if the spine's surface area is lowered (which it is) to reduce water loss, how do they 'shade' the plant during day?

[@Shadow952013]

I could be wrong, but I think it's similar to fur/hair in how they insulate

[@earthling_parth]

@@Shadow952013 yeah, but they are very thin to do that job though, aren't they? As is evident, much of the main plant trunk's skin is exposed directly to outside world even when they're covered in spines.

[@praritgupta5418]

I think that is why there skin is thick and rough,or maybe their skin use thermodynamics to transfer the least heat possibke

[@praritgupta5418]

Am I right? It's just what I thought through my knowledge Correct me if I'm wrong

[@MuhammadHanif-bx4pb]

I think those are special traits on those spherical "fluffy" cactus, not the sparse prickly one.

[@SCP--fj2jr]

*Lovin' the artstyle.* :D

[@SupremeLeaderKimJong-un]

"Native to the Americas" Rhipsalis baccifera, the only member of the cacti family found outside the Americas (native to the Americas, Africa, and Sri Lanka): *I'm the exception*

[@Alkalus]

조선민주주의인민공화국의 최고 수령님, 경의를 표합니다!

[@HienNguyenHMN]

Not all succulents are cacti

[@SupremeLeaderKimJong-un]

@@HienNguyenHMN Rhipsalis baccifera is a member of the Cactaceae/cacti family. So this one IS in fact a cacti, the only cacti found outside the Americas Google can do wonders, comrade...NEVER question the Supreme Leader. "Tell me you don't do research, without telling me you don't do research"

[@jakubjilek7499]

i love your transitions

[@samantastrautina6694]

Guess I found an GREAT video for me to watch at midnight! AS ALWAYS THANK TED-ED❤🤣 It would have been better with subtitles but still amazing before bed!

[@fauxvier8519]

Im super glad i watched pbs eon's recrnt video about ancient plants before this one!

[@Pamplemoustache]

Very inTEDesting !

[@randygre]

Please fix the pronunciation of the Saguaro cactus, the “gu” is with a “w” sound. Thanks!!

[@horndude77]

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saguaro Definitely please fix. As an Arizonan I cringed when I heard that.

[@boboloko]

@@horndude77 Tucsonan here. I was yelling at my screen each time he said it.

[@TheCoass]

Great content as always

[@jacekohl6402]

When I was 5 years old, I poked my finger into a cactus at a Mexican restaurant. It didn't really hurt, but it bled a lot.

[@GotAnnoyedAtURL]

lovely animation and design

[@alkasaket379]

Some of these things such as the waxy layer and the leaves reason to form like spines were already known by me, since my science teacher taught us this in 6th grade.

[@LaurenLaible]

This is a great video I loved it.

[@amberdai]

I love cacti! Saguaro is actually pronounced suh·waa·row. Saying the G is a common mispronunciation. I have one in my yard and they are glorious! 🌵

[@theadventuresofzizibaggins4577]

Thank you for this video. I'm sure I will get an A+ on my Science Summative Assessment.

[@rokentom3926]

Absolutely amazing content as always. Thank you

[@madcat789]

That sun is so chill.

[@pranayarora3556]

love you ted ed

[@YouAndImpact]

Very informative video 👌

[@Corazon806]

Incredible

[@kincaiddebell2827]

rly chilling with this video, mmm yeah cactus

[@juanmanuelmartinezchavez431]

Con tanto talento que tenéis ¿No pueden subtitular en español? Gracias!BCN

[@livenandlove1980]

Y si! Me encantaria ensenarlo a mi papa!

[@syntholshoulders1842]

Amazing

[@mynuttyme]

Once I tried to pick up a prickly pear fruit thinking "Meh, what could be so difficult about avoiding the thorns?" not seeing the tiny needle hair on the fruit... I learned my lesson...

[@JimmyHoussen]

Brilliant!

[@spiralfairy]

wicked cool animation

[@indianintuitiontarot5]

Nice information.....

[@fahadbinislam2344]

Life always finds a way

[@downunder4030]

Wow very helpful😊

[@marcowijana7368]

Freakin love this animation style

[@vibingyeti]

sorry marco no one asked

[@trihoangminh222]

As a person who uses English as a second language, I really hope that there are subtitles in later TED-Ed videos. It helps foreign viewers focus on the video's content and widen the audience range to children in non-English speaking countries. Its doesn't even have to be in our language, English subtitles is enough.

[@MoroccoGamer]

nice video

[@with-jan-mohammad]

The video actually tells us "how much evolutionary changes has this cacti understood" Definitely said "evolution brings the solution"

[@PhNgNg]

I love this

[@Egbert758]

Dear future biology students, You should be very happy that this fun vid is available to you

[@marilenapapavassiliou462]

As a Greek person the correct pronunciation of “stomata” made me very happy

[@theworldsmostplagiarizedma2436]

This was very cool, thank you.

[@DutchOrBelgian]

You do not pronounce the G is saguaro. It’s an H sound. “Sah - warrow”

[@pasindumadusanka6215]

Wow I like it

[@AproposDare]

"Actually, the _REAL_ reason they're prickly is because I didn't want birds sitting on them." -God

[@Mrjoey164]

thought the reason was they dont like hugs

[@kennethsantoso2606]

Good joke man

[@q-miiproductions878]

The birds that nest in them: “did you hear something?”

[@kenlleytonseril6143]

Well he might wanna take a look at mexico's flag 😂😂😂

[@samuraiboi2735]

@@kenlleytonseril6143 whats with the flag?

[@hiewkeaneyewkeisukemayflow420]

the one question that was finally answered

[@xfgo_]

I love TED-ED

[@tim_d_jong]

4:20 nice

[@ravick007]

Trivia: very primitive cacti, such as the species in the genera Pereskia, are forest plants that still have normal leaves along side with the turned-into-spike ones, but they use their spikes to climb up the trees, more or less as vines. Just like as for the spiked-trunk palm trees, the spines originate as a way to get up into the forest canopy. :)

[@airiquelmeleroy]

That's the chillest sun ever

[@sully-kun3402]

haha...0:13 great sense of humor there

[@Hatfright]

It'll quench ya! Nothing's quenchier. It's the quenchiest!

[@WorldAquariumSingapore]

Wow perfect animation there , what software do you use for this? make an aquarium animation video , that will be great cheers

[@stuurhuis69]

cacti are so cool

[@invox9490]

The pricks can also gather moist during the morning mist, thus helping the cacti gather water from the cold air.

[@reggiep75]

I need some cactus body armour but I'm also curious as to how cacti tastes too.

[@wesleycarver6070]

Nice

[@mauricioguerra7955]

nais

[@musaokai]

Cactus are the most amazing of plants

[@bl1tz533]

Yeah

[@henriqueprado9205]

Here in south Brazil they are commonly found growing on stones. In my state we have more than a hundres cacti species.

[@jillgcaceres]

Here is Colorado, most of our cacti are more like succulents with spines or the occasional pricey pear.

[@anotherordinaryguy4992]

Can you explain how certain animals and insects use the stars to guide them?

[@idiloktay9753]

Wonderfully created!!

[@askykid4892]

There are cacti in texas too. My grandma’s backyard got loads of em

[@Father_Omar]

As the mayor of dirt in rango once said “control the water, and you control everything”

[@dearmistyann3710]

Doesn't everything get a little prickly if there isn't enough water?

[@abhinavkumarsingh8799]

Cactuses can releif you from pain. 😮

[@StanGraham1]

Much of this is pretty silly but very imaginative.

[@RandomStuff-fd6iy]

These are my favourite type of Ted Ed videos. Also, what happened to the subtitles?

[@HienNguyenHMN]

It'll quench ya. It's the quenchiest

[@pavlepetrovic989]

I agree

[@alexkreps1]

20 meters!? 2:18 Insane!

[@d3r3kyasmar]

Evolution made cacti adaptable to its environment.

[@cipherited6007]

We got the cactus lore now give us the gameplay

[@midimusicforever]

Prickly trick!