Did you know that people often use the terms cactus (cacti) and succulents interchangeably, which is scientifically wrong?
Succulents are drought tolerant plants with thickened flesh that are used to store water in their stems, roots, and leaves. There are approximately 60 different plant families within the group of succulents which include aloe, cactaceae, haworthia, agave, sedum, and sempervivum.
Succulents are often mistaken for cacti because they have spiky thrones or spines however this does not automatically qualify them as a cactus. The areoles mounds are the key to distinguishing between the two.
Just remember almost nearly all cactus are succulents but not all succulents are cacti!