The endemic lava cactus (Brachycereus spp) cactus growing in the Galapagos Island Archipelago, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Ecuador, South America

brachycereus lava cactus endemic species galapagos islands volcanic rock flora nature ecology adaptation biodiversity cacti plants unesco heritage south america wildlife ecosystem growth lava flow arid landscape conservation geology evolution native plants biogeography survival desert plants prickly natural environment environmental science unique species tropical climate arid conditions habitat endemic flora volcanic landscape new world island ecology plant resilience oceanic islands endemic vegetation culinary resources terrestrial ecosystems nature preservation botanical endemic cacti evolutionary biology rocky substrate native ecology