Why do plants need both chloroplasts and mitochondria? ?

Instead, they have evolved chloroplasts, as a way to generate their own carbohydrates without consuming other organisms, by harnessing solar energy to convert carbon dioxide and water into carbohydrates. ... Mitochondria, on the other hand, efficiently break down macromolecules, such as carbohydrates or lipids, into ATP.

That is true tge cactus as a structural adaptation to its envirinment has it leaves reduced to spines. but this doesnt mean it cant produce food it produces food because of the presence of chlorophyll in its stem