Results: The mysterious rare crested saguaro
Published on 05/06/2017
Whether you are a full-time resident or seasonal visitor, it is hard to not admire the large, stunning saguaro cacti we are fortunate enough to enjoy all over Scottsdale, Arizona.
QUESTIONS
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1.
1.
What Saguaro Cacti facts are you familiar with?
It is native to the Sonoran Desert in Arizona, the Mexican State of Sonora, and the Whipple Mountains & Imperial County areas of California.
14%
262 votes
Saguaro cacti take a very long time to grow. A new saguaro takes at least eight years to grow to a height of 1-1.5 inches (or over 70 feet).
12%
230 votes
They produce their first flowers at 35 years.
5%
106 votes
The first branches or arms do not come until the saguaro is 50-70 years old. A mature saguaro can have up to 25 arms.
5%
90 votes
Saguaros are not considered adult cacti until they are 125 years old.
4%
74 votes
Saguaro have very shallow root bases. So, when you see a saguaro propped up with wooden beams, it is typically a newly planted one that needs time for the roots to get established.
5%
104 votes
Saguaros can reach heights in excess of 50 feet. It is the tallest of the cactus species.
7%
141 votes
The saguaro is mostly made up of water, which makes it a very heavy plant. For instance, a 50 foot saguaro could clock in at around 8 tons.
7%
138 votes
It is believed the typical lifespan for a saguaro is 150-175 years.
3%
65 votes
In 1994, Saguaro National Park, near Tucson, Arizona, was designated to help protect this species and its habitat.
6%
119 votes
All of the above.
4%
82 votes
N/A or I am unfamiliar with all of these facts.
69%
1333 votes
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2.
Once in a while, you will see a saguaro like the one on the left. It is a rare condition called a crested saguaro (or cristate saguaro). It is unknown how or why this happens, but some top theories include lightning damage, a genetic mutation or frost damage. Regardless of the cause, a crested saguaro is extremely rare. Experts estimate that this only happens in 1 to 100,000 to 200,000 saguaros. What possible theories do you believe to be true for the mutation in the crested saguaro?
Lightning damage.
7%
140 votes
A genetic mutation.
18%
354 votes
Frost damage.
9%
171 votes
All of the above.
20%
394 votes
Unknown?
53%
1029 votes
Other (please specify)
2%
30 votes
| Other Answers | Percentage | Votes |
|---|---|---|
| 1.09% | 23 | |
| It probably has something to do with the President Trump-Russia connection. | 0.05% | 1 |
| disease | 0.05% | 1 |
| Don't know or care! | 0.05% | 1 |
| Could be larvae infestation | 0.05% | 1 |
| na | 0.05% | 1 |
| It was bored | 0.05% | 1 |
| n/a | 0.05% | 1 |
3.
3.
What flower, fruit and nest facts are you familiar with?
Flowers: The flowers appear in April through June. They are white and open well after sunset and close in mid-afternoon. They continue to produce nectar after sunrise. Main pollinators are honey bees, bats, and white-winged doves.
10%
197 votes
Fruit: The ruby red fruits are 2.4 to 3.5 inches (6 to 9 cm) long and ripen in June. Each fruit contains around 2,000 seeds plus sweet fleshy connective tissue. The fruits are edible and prized by local people.
9%
180 votes
Nests: Native birds such as Gila woodpeckers, purple martins, house finches, and gilded flickers live inside holes in saguaros. Flickers excavate larger holes higher on the stem. The nest cavity is deep, and the parents and young are entirely hidden from view.
11%
209 votes
All of the above.
9%
171 votes
N/A or I am unfamiliar with all of these facts.
70%
1353 votes
4.
4.
Laws: Harming a saguaro in any manner, including cactus plugging, is illegal by state law in Arizona, and when houses or highways are built, special permits must be obtained to move or destroy any saguaro affected. Exceptions to this general understanding exist; for example, a private landowner whose property is 10 acres (4.0 ha) or less, where the initial construction has already occurred, may remove a saguaro from the property. This is common when the cactus falls over in a storm, its location interferes with a house addition, or it becomes a potential hazard to humans. If you are familiar with the saguaro cacti, have you ever heard of these laws?
Yes
16%
310 votes
No
84%
1619 votes
5.
5.
Lastly, do you live in an area where there are saguaro cacti?
Yes
8%
156 votes
No
92%
1773 votes
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