Sexual reproduction in cacti involves the production of flowers, which contain both male and female reproductive structures. When pollinators, such as bees, butterflies, or birds, visit the flowers, they transfer pollen from the male anthers to the female stigma. This allows for the fertilisation of the female ovules, resulting in the production of seeds. Once the seeds are dispersed, they can germinate and grow into new cacti.
Asexual reproduction in cacti occurs through vegetative propagation. This involves the production of new plants from specialised plant structures, such as stem cuttings, leaves, or root suckers. When these structures are detached from the parent plant and come into contact with moist soil, they can develop roots and grow into independent individuals. This method of reproduction is often used for propagating cacti in cultivation.