The cactus, belonging to the Cactaceae family and Cactaceae genus, is a herbaceous plant with bowl-shaped, bright yellow flowers. The flower receptacle is oval, and the berries are ovoid-globose.

The stem is thick and succulent, green or grey-green, and replaces leaves for photosynthesis. The flowers of the cactus bloom mainly from March to May, and the fruiting period is from June to October.

The cactus derives its name from its resemblance to a hand with fingers clasped together and its spines.

The cactus is native to the eastern coast of Mexico, the southern and southeastern coastal regions of the United States, the West Indies, the Bermuda Islands, and northern South America. It also grows naturally in the Canary Islands, India, and eastern Australia. Cacti thrive in warm, dry, sunny, and well-ventilated environments, preferring fertile, loose, well-drained sandy loam soil.

Most species of cacti require temperatures above 18°C to initiate growth, with an optimal range between 20-30°C. Some species thrive in temperatures ranging from 25-35°C, while those from cooler regions prefer temperatures between 15-25°C. Most terrestrial cacti benefit from significant diurnal temperature fluctuations (around 30-40°C during the day and 15-20°C at night) during their growing season.

The growth and development of cacti, like other plants, depend on essential nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, as well as other elements. Given suitable temperature and humidity conditions and fertile soil, cacti grow well, exhibiting glossy plants, vibrant spines, and prolific flowering, especially when grafted onto a columnar cactus as the rootstock.

Various fertilizers such as chicken manure, human urine, bone meal, and different cake fertilizers can be used once fully decomposed. Generally, a light but frequent fertilization method is employed, applying fertilizer every two weeks during the growing season, avoiding the risk of over-fertilization. Fertilization should cease when plant growth stops, while basal fertilization is conducted during repotting.

Cacti contain a plethora of biologically active medicinal components such as mucilage, triterpenes, betalains, alkaloids, and flavonoids. They also have organic acids with antimicrobial properties and sugars that enhance immune function. Therefore, cacti are used not only to treat conditions like dysentery, asthma, gastric pain, and hemorrhoids but also to provide auxiliary treatment for nephritis, diabetes, palpitations, insomnia, arteriosclerosis, hypertension, and obesity.

For obese individuals, cacti can be considered an effective weight-loss aid. Consuming a cactus pad with each meal not only aids digestion and prevents the accumulation of glucose, cholesterol, and fat in the body but also prevents and treats various diseases.

Edible cacti not only possess properties such as heat-clearing, detoxification, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial effects but also contain the highest content of the plant growth hormone Kinetin, which effectively increases the activity of skin cells, delaying skin aging. Therefore, cactus extracts have great potential in the cosmetics and health products industries. Additionally, utilizing Kinetin can treat many skin conditions, such as psoriasis, skin redness, and various wounds.

Cacti represent nature's resilience and offer a wealth of medicinal benefits. Their remarkable adaptability and versatile applications underscore their importance in both ecological and human contexts.