Many kinds of cactus and other desert plants, such as a Euphorbia, are remarkably similar in that they have fleshy plant bodies and spines. Their flower structures, however, show that they are not related. The process considered to be responsible for their similarity in structure is

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Convergent evolution is the process where organisms not closely related independently evolve similar traits as a result of having to adapt to similar environments or ecological niches. In this case, cacti and Euphorbia have developed similar adaptations (fleshy bodies and spines) to survive in desert conditions, despite their different evolutionary backgrounds.

Many Kinds of Cactus and Other Desert Plants, Such as a Euphorbia