A giant tree-like cactus called a saguaro in Arizona, USA
Susan E. Degginger / Alamy
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Cacti are one of the world’s most fascinating and easily recognizable plant families, but how and why this spiny family evolved into such a diverse range of shapes and sizes has remained a mystery. Now, researchers are unraveling the ancient history of the Cactaceae family, revealing surprising forces that shaped these plants and raising concerns about their future.
Fossils can’t tell us much about…
