Cactuses are important to animals and people. Small animals, insects, and birds feed on the stems and flowers of cactuses. Many birds build nests in cactus stems. Certain woodpeckers live inside the larger species. Birds and animals may hide from enemies in the stem of a cactus plant.
Cactuses also provide food for people.
After the spines are scraped off, prickly pear stems can be fried and eaten. Some people eat cactus fruits, or grind the seeds into a kind of meal or cakes. Some cactuses are important to the production of red food dye. Certain cactuses can be used for lumber. This page was edited by Davey Antee using Project Poster .