Dannette Hunnel
Last month we had the pleasure of seeing the saguaro cactus bloom. The saguaro is Arizona’s state wildflower. It stands as the worldwide symbol for our great State 48.
Fun facts about our distinct Wild West symbol:
• Saguaro translates to giant tree-like cactus. Its scientific name, Carnegiea Gigantea, came in honor of Andrew Carnegie who, through the Carnegie Institute, in 1903 established the Desert Botanical Laboratory in Tucson, Ariz. This research facility was purchased by the University of Arizona to begin the studies of desert plants.
• Most but not all saguaros will grow arms, some with as few as four, while others can grow 20. Arm growth begins at approximately 50 years of age.
• Saguaros are found in the Sonoran Desert (Arizona, Southeast California, Northwestern Mexico).
• The plant retains moisture gained during the summer rains and relies on heat for existence. The more arms, the more water retained.
• It is estimated that saguaros can live to be 150 to 200 years old, grow to be between 40 and 60 feet tall, and if consistently hydrated, can weigh up to 4,000 pounds.
• Long ago, when a saguaro died, its woody ribs were used to build furniture, roofs, and fences. The spines can be encapsulated in tubes, with pebbles added to become our famous rain sticks.
• It is illegal to tear down or destroy a saguaro on federal land/national parks in Arizona.
• The saguaro flowers we saw last month bloom on the very top and on the arms, and for only 24 hours. They open at night and through the next day. They have a rubbery appearance and emit a strong odor of overripe melons. White flowers bloom in our late spring and red fruit in summer.
• The flowers are pollinated at night by long-nosed bats and the Mexican long-tongued bat.
• During the day, the flowers are pollinated by bees and birds, such as the white-winged dove.
• After the flowers have been pollinated, they mature into bright red fruit. The fruit ripens and splits open, showing juicy, red pulp. Each fruit can contain up to 2,000 small black seeds.
• The ripe fruit is a food and moisture source for many desert animals.
• The fruits can be made into a thick syrup for jam, wine, etc. The flavor is similar to plum. Also, seeds can be dried and left plain for chicken feed.
It’s a delight to wake up to the saguaro blooms each year, if only for a day.