Synopsis
Currently, there are approximately 142 genera and 1,793 species of cacti registered worldwide. These plants possess unique forms and characteristics.
Commonly used as decorative plants, cacti have many other functions beyond this. In certain cultures, they serve as medicinal plants, food sources, and even forms of physical protection due to their spines.
Based on the work of Karl Blossfeldt, I chose to analyze these plants, their anatomical forms, and varying sizes.
In this study, we will delve into the internal and external structures of these plants. From the roots to the spines, each part reveals an evolutionary and complex story of these species. The images are captured at the Cactus Garden in the Botanical Garden of Porto, which is a xerophytic garden created in the late 1950s. It contains a collection of cacti and succulents and includes two greenhouses, one desert and one tropical.
"Nature educates us into beauty and inwardness and is a source of the most noble pleasure." (Karl Blossfeldt)
