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Galapagos CactusThe Lava cactus, Candelabra cactus and the species of Opuntia or "Prickly Pair" are endemic to these set of Islands. This plant in Galapagos plays an important role in the islands' ecosystems because many other species depend on it. It is also a significant part of the fauna of its mostly arid Islands. The Cacti in Galapagos are beautiful and extensive; you can find them almost on every Island you visit.  Find Economic Air Flights to the Galapagos Islands here Cactus store water in their stems and leaves and are able to survive in aggressive climates. The cactus has spines which are a fundamental part of the Cacti, they are used to guard against hostile animals making the plant difficult to chew. The spines are also useful because they offer shade to keep the internal temperature of the plant down, and they send rainwater towards the bottom of the plant. The Opuntia, or prickly pear cactus is an endemic species and is the most prominent and the most diverse Galapagos cactus. There are fourteen different categories and six species of endemic Opuntia in the Galapagos Islands. Galapagos Cactus provides food to many birds and animals on the islands. Some of these animals are: Galapagos Finches, Galapagos Iguanas and the Galapagos Tortoises Doves and mockingbirds, also feed from this plant. In the arid zones of the Galapagos Island of San Cristobal you will find another variety of cacti such as the O. megasperma orientalis And in the upper zones of this Island the O. megasperma mesophytica is the prominent variety. Galapagos Cactus CharacteristicsPrickly Pair Cactus (Opuntia Cactaceae): This is the common name used for plants of the cactus family. It is endemic to Galapagos and it is also the most common in the Islands. It has yellow flowers that develop into an orange-red prickle covered fruit and can grow up to 5 feet tall. The prickly pear cactus is an important component of the Galapagos ecosystem upon which other organisms depend. Many herbivores feed on its pads, fruit and flowers. The Prickly Pear Cactus is the source of food to a lot of Galapagos land animals as well as birds. Lava Cactus  Lava Cactus (Brachycereus Nesioticus) They grow up in groups on the lava fields of the Galapagos Islands and can reach a height of 23 inches.The color of this cactus is yellow at the beginning then turns to orange and it fades to gray or black as it matures with time. It has white flowers that are visible in the early morning hours only. In the Galapagos Islands there are nearly 600 species of plants and almost one third of them are endemic to the islands, which means that some species cannot be found anywhere else on Earth. In the highlands of Galapagos you can find bromeliads, orchids and the endemic Scalesia. In the coast of the Islands you can see giant prickly pears and candelabra cacti. More about Galapagos Plants We can come to the conclusion that the Galapagos Cactus has continuously evolved into different varieties to adapt to their new environment and to survive to the different weather conditions that the Islands have. Suggested Galapagos Reading:Flowering Plants of the Galapagos Is the first accessible, in-depth yet compact guide to the Galapagos plants. An invaluable resource for tourists, natural history enthusiasts and professionals. (Highly recommended) A Guide to the Birds of the Galapagos Islands
Economic Galapagos Trips  Custom Search If you have any questions about these Islands or the Galapagos Cactus Please post them on our Galapagos FAQ Section and if you would like to know more about our recommended Galapagos Tour Packages to explore this Archipelago, You can Contact us here
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