Saguaro
Cereus giganteus

Height: to 50'; 2 1/2' in diameter; and weighing 9 tons
Flowers: Waxy-white, to 3" wide; in clusters on ends of arms or main trunk.
Fruit: Egg-shaped fleshy, green, to 3" long. Interior is bright red.
Blooms: May - June
Elevation: 600 to 3600'
Habitat: Rocky slopes and well-drained flats.

A saguaro's skeleton is a strong, woody material that moves food around, and helps the plant stand up. These"ribs" were used by the Salado when building roofs on their houses. Many animals live in the saguaro - gila woodpeckers and gilded flickers drill nest holes in the plant itself; larger birds, such as owls and hawks nest in the branches, while scorpions, snakes, and other small animals live among the roots.

The pleats in the saguaro allow it to expand and contract as it absorbs and loses water. The spines provide shade, and break up wind currents, which reduces evaporation. The saguaro's thick, waxy skin also helps the plant retain water. Photosynthesis takes place in the plant's green skin.

The flowers are pollinated by bats and moths. The flowers close the next day, and the fruit ripens a month later. A full grown saguaro can produce at least 100 fruits in a season, each containing up to 2,000 tiny jet-black seeds.


NPS Home | Tonto Home | Expanded Home | Nature | Culture | Visit | Virtual Tours |
Education | Bookstore | Park Info | Index                         Updated May 10, 2005