Saguaro cactus
| Saguaro | |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Core eudicots |
| Order: | Caryophyllales |
| Family: | Cactaceae |
| Subfamily: | Cactoideae |
| Tribe: | Pachycereeae |
| Genus: |
Carnegiea Britton & Rose |
| Species: | C. gigantea |
| Binomial name | |
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Carnegiea gigantea (Engelm.) Britton & Rose |
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| Natural range of Carnegiea gigantea | |
| Synonyms | |
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The saguaro (/səˈwɑːroʊ/, Spanish pronunciation: [saˈɣwaɾo]) (Carnegiea gigantea) is an arborescent (tree-like) cactus species in the monotypic genus Carnegiea, which can grow to be over 70 feet (21 m) tall. It is native to the Sonoran Desert in Arizona, the Mexican State of Sonora, and the Whipple Mountains and Imperial County areas of California. The saguaro blossom is the state wildflower of Arizona. Its scientific name is given in honor of Andrew Carnegie. In 1994 the Saguaro National Park, Arizona, was designated to help protect this species and its habitat. It is the only US national park devoted to a particular plant species.
The common name saguaro came into the English language through the Spanish language, originating in the Mayo language.
Saguaros have a relatively long lifespan. They may grow their first side arm any time from 75–100 years of age, but some never grow one at all. A saguaro without arms is called a spear.
The arms are grown to increase the plant's reproductive capacity (more apices lead to more flowers and fruit). The growth rate of saguaros is strongly dependent on precipitation; saguaros in drier western Arizona grow only half as fast as those in and around Tucson, Arizona. Saguaros grow slowly from seed, never from cuttings. Specimens may live for more than 150 years and grow to be over 40 ft tall. The largest known living saguaro is the Champion Saguaro growing in Maricopa County, Arizona, and is 13.8 m (45.3 ft) tall with a girth of 3.1 m (10 ft). The tallest saguaro ever measured was an armless specimen found near Cave Creek, Arizona; it measured 78 feet (24 m) tall before it blew over in a windstorm in 1986.
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Wikipedia