Sunday, February 17, 2013

Saguaro Cactus fast facts:

-Pronounced ‘suh-WAH-ro’

-Its proper name, Carnegiea gigantea, was an homage to philanthropist Andrew Carnegie.

-It is only found in the Sonoran Desert. They are heavily concentrated in southern Arizona and northern Mexico in Sonora. Few are found in California.

-Arms will not grow off of the trunk until it is about 15 feet tall, which takes approximately 75 years. The tallest on record was 78 feet tall, and was likely over 200 years old.

-The root system is shallow, stabilized more by rocks than soil, and the average saguaro holds about 200 gallons of water.

-Holes in saguaros are not always a sign of disease. More often than not, it is due to a Gila woodpecker looking for a drink.

-The saguaro bloom is the official state flower of Arizona. Though it is not endangered, saguaros are heavily protected by state law against humans damaging or removing the cactus without a permit.

For more information: http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/life/Saguaro

http://www.desertmuseum.org/kids/oz/long-fact-sheets/Saguaro%20Cactus.php

http://www.nps.gov/sagu/naturescience/saguaro_threats.htm

Photo credit: Greg Vaughn: http://gregvaughn.photoshelter.com/
Saguaro Cactus fast facts:

-Pronounced ‘suh-WAH-ro’

-Its proper name, Carnegiea gigantea, was an homage to philanthropist Andrew Carnegie.

-It is only found in the Sonoran Desert. They are heavily concentrated in southern Arizona and northern Mexico in Sonora. Few are found in California.

-Arms will not grow off of the trunk until it is about 15 feet tall, which takes approximately 75 years. The tallest on record was 78 feet tall, and was likely over 200 years old.

-The root system is shallow, stabilized more by rocks than soil, and the average saguaro holds about 200 gallons of water.

-Holes in saguaros are not always a sign of disease. More often than not, it is due to a Gila woodpecker looking for a drink.

-The saguaro bloom is the official state flower of Arizona. Though it is not endangered, saguaros are heavily protected by state law against humans damaging or removing the cactus without a permit.

For more information: http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/life/Saguaro

http://www.desertmuseum.org/kids/oz/long-fact-sheets/Saguaro%20Cactus.php

http://www.nps.gov/sagu/naturescience/saguaro_threats.htm

Photo credit: Greg Vaughn: http://gregvaughn.photoshelter.com/

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