Giant tree-like cactuses called saguaros in Arizona, USA
Susan E. Degginger / Alamy
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Cacti are one of the world’s most beguiling and easily recognised plant families, but how and why the spiky family evolved into its many diverse shapes and sizes has been a mystery. Now, researchers are untangling the ancient history of the Cactaceae, revealing some surprising forces that shaped these plants, and prompting concern for their future.
