Sunday, September 04, 2016

Cargnegiea Gigantea

The path up to the giant Saguaro was only one of the inclines on our 2.3 mile hike yesterday.  Me, Ed, and my friend Kim met at 6:15 a.m. to do this hike in Catalina State Park.  The early hour was my idea because once the sun comes up, it's too hot for me.  At 6 a.m. it was already in the seventies.  

I was happy to see the largest cactus in the United States because it marks the beginning of the trail's descent - the steps up finally head downward just after the top of the hill. You can see Ed and I glistening from our uphill effort HERE. The hills are easy for Ed and Kim, but for me, it's like climbing Mt. Everest.  By the end of this hike I was a dripping mess. But I did it!

Here are a few fun saguaro facts from the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum:


  • The saguaro cactus (Carnegiea gigantea) is one of the defining plants of the Sonoran Desert. These plants are large, tree-like columnar cacti that develop branches (or arms) as they age, although some never grow arms. These arms generally bend upward and can number over 25. Saguaros are covered with protective spines, white flowers in the late spring, and red fruit in summer.
  • Saguaros are found exclusively in the Sonoran Desert. The most important factors for growth are water and temperature. If the elevation is too high, the cold weather and frost can kill the saguaro. Although the the Sonoran Desert experiences both winter and summer rains, it is thought that the Saguaro obtains most of its moisture during the summer rainy season.
  • You find this cactus in southern Arizona and western Sonora, Mexico. At the northern portion of their range they are more plentiful on the warmer south facing slopes. A few stray plants can also be found in southeast California.
  • The saguaro is not currently listed as threatened or endangered. Arizona has strict regulations about the harvesting, collection or destruction of this species.
  • With the right growing conditions, it is estimated that saguaros can live to be as much as 150-200 years old.
  • Saguaro are very slow growing cactus. A 10 year old plant might only be 1.5 inches tall. Saguaro can grow to be between 40-60 feet tall (12-18m). When rain is plentiful and the saguaro is fully hydrated it can weigh between 3200-4800 pounds.
  • The saguaro is the largest cactus in the United States.
  • Most of the saguaros roots are only 4-6 inches deep and radiate out as far from the plant as it is tall. There is one deep root, or tap root that extends down into the ground more than 2 feet.
  • After the saguaro dies its woody ribs can be used to build roofs, fences, and parts of furniture. The holes that birds nested in or "saguaro boots" can be found among the dead saguaros. Native Americans used these as water containers long before the canteen was available.



~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2015: Celebrating Labor Day By Not Laboring
2014: A Taco Garage Worth Pulling Into
2013: Who?
2012: You Can’t Ask For A More Convenient Setup
2011: The Thoughts In My Mind About This Guy, Are Criminal
2010: The Queen Of High Society
2009: An Icy Glare For The Heat Miser
2008: Jazz Funeral On Decatur
2007: Keeping The Homeland Secure One Dog At A Time
2006: Reputation Is Everything
2005: ”_________________”

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