Saguaro Cactus Blossom

(Cereus giganteus)
Adopted on March 16, 1931.
The Saguaro Blossom, Cereus
giganteus, was adopted as the floral
emblem of the Arizona Territory on March
8, 1901, and officially confirmed as the
state flower by the Legislature on March
16, 1931. Prior to its adoption, a
saguaro cactus appeared on the first
territorial seal of Arizona in 1863.
The fragrant, waxy white saguaro
blossom is one of the most unique State
flowers. In May and June, the Cactus
bears creamy white flowers with yellow
centers that measured about three
inches. The Saguaro Cactus flower can be
found on the end of the branches. The
flower only opens on cooler nights and
is closed during the heat of midday.
However, it's not easy to see the
beautiful, creamy white, trumpet-shaped
flowers inasmuch as they open only at
night and last only about 18 hours. The
flowers are sweetly scented and attract
bees and flies through its blooming
season of May and June. By July, the
flowers become red-fleshed fruits that
feed doves migrating from Mexico.
The saguaro cactus has been
described as the monarch of the Sonoran
Desert, as a prickly horror, as the
supreme symbol of the American
Southwest, and as a plant with
personality. nto the Rincon and West
Tucson mountains
The
Saguaro is renowned for the variety of
odd, all-too-human shapes it assumes,
shapes that inspire wild and fanciful
imaginings.
Saguaro are found only in the Sonoran
desert. The giant saguaro is the king of
cacti. A full-grown saguaro is usually
more than 35 feet in height and is at
least 75 years old, sometimes reaching a
height of 50 feet and life span of 200
years. Some have arms but all are green
and have a wax-like skin that helps
prevent water loss. Rare and endangered
this extraordinary giant cactus has been
protected within Saguaro National Park
since 1933 .
The saguaro fruit has long been used
by the Papago and Pima Indians who
harvest the fruits and make syrup.
Saguaro seeds contain the psychoactive
alkaloids Carnegine and Arizonine. The
Saguaro is a relatively fast growing
cactus Also known, as Saguaro is the
most famous giant cactus of the world.
Can grow up to 12 M height. Saguaro wine
is used for rain rituals. The pulp can
be boiled down or fermented, witch gives
you sweet, brown syrup. This can be
mixed with water or alcohol, which gives
you Saguaro beer or wine.
Taxonomic Hierarchy
|
Kingdom |
Plantae -- Plants |
Subkingdom |
Tracheobionta --
Vascular plants |
Superdivision |
Spermatophyta -- Seed
plants |
Division |
Magnoliophyta --
Flowering plants |
Class |
Magnoliopsida --
Dicotyledons |
Subclass |
Caryophyllidae – |
Order |
Caryophyllales – |
Family |
Cactaceae – Cactus
family |
Genus |
Carnegia Britt. &
Rose – saguaro |
Species |
Carnegia gigantea
(Engelm.) Britt. & Rose
saguaro ple P |
|