Strawberry Pitaya (Echinocereus stramineus) - If water loss through leaves is such a problem to desert plants, why have leaves at all? Cacti are completely leafless; the green succulent stems do the work of photosynthesis which most plants perform in leaves. The strawberry pitaya, with its dome of short stems and long spines, seems well-protected from contact with other creatures. Like all living things though, it requires interaction with others to survive. Brilliant magenta flowers attract pollinating insects, and hungry animals disperse the seeds by eating the fruit.