- A saguaro will only reach an inch or so in its first five to ten years
- Saguaros reach maturity and flower for the first time around 65 years
- They usually sprout their first "arm" (branch) around 75 years
- Saguaros can live to be about 150 years old, but some have lived over two centuries
- Of the 40 million seeds one saguaro produces in its life, only one or two will ever grow into mature cactuses
- Saguaro tissue may be 85% water; a mature plant can weigh 8 tons or more!
Just outside of Tucson, Arizona lies the very first national park created for the sole purpose of protecting a species of plant. Saguaro National Park is home to the iconic desert image: towering cactuses with arms reaching skyward. When we were kids and had to draw a cactus, chances are this is the one we drew. It's what everyone thinks of when we think of the desert southwest, but in truth they are limited to a very small chunk of the Sonoran desert. Here are some of the fun saguaro facts we learned: The Sonoran Desert is home to a huge variety of prickly and spiny plants. In life, those spines protect them from hungry animals (somewhat...javelinas have no trouble chewing and digesting prickly pear cactus pads, spines and all). In death, a cactus that has fallen to the desert floor will become a safe haven for scorpions, spiders, kangaroo rats, lizards or any anything else that finds it hospitable as the spines and flesh degrade and the woody core remains. Sometimes the arms of the saguaro do not grow straight upward. No one knows for sure what causes them to droop or point in other directions, but it makes for some interesting and sometimes human-like formations. The desert is my favorite place on earth. A harsh landscape that nonetheless brings forth a host of color and life. If you get the chance to see it, don't pass it up.
2 Comments
Katie
2/15/2013 01:59:48 pm
My parents lived in Tucson for a few years, and I enjoyed visiting them there. The scenery was very distinct. We went to the Sonoran Desert and the Museum too...it was very cool! You got some great shots!!
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