This cactus is one of the most famous and recognizable among similar plants, as it is represented in many films of the West and in computer games. And the enormous dimensions characteristic only of him make him quite recognizable among his brothers.
We are talking about a unique Saguaro cactus (photo presented in the article) - the largest cactus in the whole world.
General information
For many plants, life is not easy. These include the giant Saguaro (the scientific name is giant carnegia). His life begins from a small seed, which, by a lucky chance, has fallen into suitable soil, located under the light shade of a tree or shrub. A sprout breaks out of the seed after heavy rains, turning in 25-30 years into a full-fledged plant about one meter high. And after 50 years, the giant Saguaro cactus reaches its most mature state and blooms with wonderful white flowers. Their beauty can be observed only at certain times - they bloom at night, but sometimes can persist until the morning.
A five-meter cactus forms young lateral processes. The most mature plants reach a height of up to 15 meters with a weight of 6-10 tons. They can grow up to 150 years.
Giant carnegia is a real giant. It is known that there are cacti 200 years old. The diameter of such plants reaches one meter. Despite such an impressive size, it is grown in botanical gardens, and just collectors of unusual plants.
It should be noted that 80% of the mass of the cactus is water.
Habitat
The main place where Saguaro cactus grows in nature is the Sonora Desert, which stretches from Mexico to Arizona (southern part). Some individual specimens can also be found in southeastern California.
Important factors for the growth of the giant are temperature, air and water. For very tall cacti, frost and cold water can have a pretty damaging effect. It is believed that the plant receives the bulk of the moisture in the summer, during the rainfall season. Although it rains in the desert in winter.
In Arizona, the Saguaro National Park was established in 1933 to preserve this unique plant.
Interesting Facts
- The giant carnegia flower is a symbol of Arizona.
- Saguaro cactus begins to bloom at the age of 35. Moreover, the flower itself has a powerful aroma.
- The main pollinators of the plant are bats feeding on its nectar.
- Branches in a cactus begin to grow only from the age of 70 years.
- Ruby-red fruits (6-9 cm in length) containing up to 2000 seeds ripen in June. They are edible and are well appreciated by the locals.
- Only reaching the age of 125 years, a cactus can be considered an adult.
- A giant grows by only 1 meter in the first 30 years of its life, and in the next 50 or so years, its growth increases by 1 millimeter daily.
- If the cactus were empty, then it would be possible for a person to calmly fit in, escaping from the exhausting desert heat and sipping tequila extracted from the juicy pulp of the plant.
- Among the white and delicate petals of Saguaro, hundreds of stamens are located, among which there are so large that the small birds between them even make nests.
Refuge for birds and animals
The giant saguaro cactus serves as a refuge for some species of birds and small animals.
For example, small owls and woodpeckers arrange a hollow right inside the plant, in which they live, breed their offspring and hide from predators. In the voids and cracks of the cactus, lizards often live.
For many desert animals, the fruits of this plant serve as a source of moisture and food. Thanks to this "mutually beneficial cooperation", the seeds of this unique representative of the flora spread over vast territories of the desert.
Saguaro national park
On the territory of this unique national park several thousand copies of this variety of cactus grow. Saguaro is strictly protected by state law.
Constant monitoring of the park is carried out both on the ground and from the air. When this plant is inflicted any slight harm, punishment will inevitably follow (from a fine to imprisonment up to 25 years). The park’s employees conduct the strictest control and accounting (every 10 years) of the amount of giant carnegia.
It should be noted that another 49 cactus species grow in this protected area in the amount of 1,162 plants in the eastern part, 512 in the western part.
In the national park, the animal world is also quite diverse, there are: owls, bats, rattlesnakes, desert turtles, striped raccoon, baribal, American fox, badger, coyote, puma, coat and red lynx.
Finally
In 1988, a surprisingly large cactus was discovered in Arizona. The prickly giant reached a height of 18 meters.
What is the largest Saguaro cactus today? The record belongs to an instance growing also in Arizona Sonora (Marikup County). In girth, this plant reaches up to three meters, and in height - just over 13. The mass of the largest cactus in the world is about 8 tons!
There are many similar prickly plants in this desert, but their sizes are smaller.