Saguaro Cactus

Description:

The Saguaro Cactus has a smooth and waxy skin and is covered with two-inch spines that are located on the tree's vertical ribs. In May and June, the Cactus bears creamy white flowers with yellow centers that measured about three inches. The Saguaro Cactus flower can be found on the end of the branches. The flower only opens on cooler nights and is closed during the heat of midday. The stem of the cactus can be 18 to 24 inches in diameter, The Cactus and its branches grow upright as do all cacti in the southwestern U.S. When it rains the Saguaro Cactus soaks up water and holds it in its ribs. Since it does not rain a lot in the desert, the cactus uses the water that it stores when it doesn't rain. The Saguaro Cactus is Arizona's state flower. The average lifespan for a Saguaro cactus is about 200 years.

Habitat:

Gates Pass, Tucson, Az.

Notes:

The Saguaro Cactus can absorb a lot of water because the ribs on the plant can expand. It has an amazing root system, though one very shallow for such a tall, heavy plant. They have one tap root that is only about three feet long, and two sets of radial roots. One is a thick root system, which is only about one foot long, and there is also a thinner root system that grows to a length equal to the height of the cactus. Saguaro's have a very strong framework consisting of three different structural features. There is a woody tissue that runs parallel up and down the Saguaro to form a cylindrical shape. There is also a thick whitish pith, and a fleshy tissue. Downward pointing spines make it easier to direct rainwater into the depressions of the cactus. The spines help to cool the outer skin. The spines also help redirect the wind and insulate the plant.