We often refer to all succulent plants as cacti, but this is not correct, in fact cacti belong only to one particular family of the vegetable kingdom, while succulent plants are found in several plant families. We can therefore say that while all cacti are succulent, not all succulents are cacti.

All cacti are found growing wild in the American continent. A few species found in Africa and Sri Lanka are thought to have been taken there as seeds by birds flying all the way from South America. The actual development of cacti is thought to have started in South America when this was a separate island from North America, but even when these two land masses were still separate cacti found a foothold in Mexico. Now we can see cacti in the wild from Canada to the southern tip of South America with two centres of development - one in Brazil and the other in Mexico.

Other succulents are found all over the world, wherever there is a drought for some months. The largest concentration of other succulents, from various plant families is found in Southern Africa, and plants from these parts adjust more readily to our climate, since like Malta, the western part of South Africa has winter rain and summer droughts.

Both cacti and other succulent plants can be found as huge trees or dwarf plants no larger than a 2c coin, but because of space, the smaller plants are more popular in cultivation. All over the world one can find people who collect these plants. Some collections are so specialised that they are made up of only cacti, or even restricted to just one genus. To keep these plants you only need dedication, their cultivation is relatively easy.

In countries with climates like ours one can find huge collections of cacti and other succulent plants. Perhaps the most famous in Europe is the Jardin Exotique in Monaco. In the US we find the Huntington Botanical Gardens in California, but many other collections, both public and private, are found all over the world.

Here in Malta we once had a small, but interesting cactus and succulent collection at the Argotti Gardens, but now one can only see a few, often unnamed specimens. In spite of this there are a number of good private collections. Many in these islands are interested in doing some gardening, but very few have a garden to do it in.

Cacti and other succulents could be kept on a south-facing balcony or terrace. Some very good collections in these islands are found on roofs and so these plants can give people the enjoyment of doing some gardening even if they don't have a garden. Cacti and other succulents are also very hardy plants and normally would show you that they are not in a favourable place by growing in an abnormal way. Put them in a better place and they will start showing their best once again. Other plants normally die before we even discover that the place they were in was not good for them.

Most people interested in the cultivation of cacti and other succulent plants are members of the Cactus and Succulent Society of Malta. This is a small but very active society formed in 1951 and has slightly fewer than 200 members. In these last 14 years this society has held an annual exhibition of cacti and other succulent plants grown in these islands by its members.

The aim of this exhibition is educational and so entrance is free. This year's exhibition will be held today and tomorrow between 8.30 a.m. and 7.30 p.m. at the Victoria Hall in Oratory Street, Naxxar. This is a very good occasion for one to be able see the huge variety of plant forms that exist and what could be grown in a limited space.