August 19, 2009

How Cacti Live on Rocks

Last June I published two cactus pictures, including one of little prickly pears living on a rock.

Apparently, bacteria are the secret to their success.

"When a seed falls in bats and bird droppings onto barren rock, it contains all the bacteria it needs to pioneer colonisation of that rock," says Dr [Yoav] Bashan [of the Northwestern Center for Biological Research in La Paz, Mexico].

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Cactus is one of my favorite plants to put inside the house. It is true that cactus also helps produce soil from the rock. Hey, you want to save a dog, check this out: http://apps.facebook.com/save-a-dog/