
The Saguaro Cactus (Pronounced Sa-WAH-row) is the largest cactus in the U.S.

The Saguaro grows only in the Sonoran Desert of Arizona, California and Sonora Mexico

The Saguaro begins life as a shiny black seed no bigger than a period. It grows in the shaded, moist habitat of a
nurse tree or shrub

The Saguaro can grow as high as 50 feet and weigh 6 to 8 tons

A Saguaro will be 65 years old before it forms its first arm

The largest Saquaros, with more than 5 arms, are estimated to be 200 years old

The arms can number over 25

THE SAGUARO HOTEL
The Saguaro provides shelter, food, water and refuge for many desert denizens

The Gila Woodpecker and the Gilded Flicker make their home in the Saguaro Cactus by chiseling out small holes in the trunk

Once they leave, they don't re-use the same nest, but other birds do, such as owls, finches, cactus wrens and purple martins

Saguaros flower in May and June, producing many buds near the tops of the stem and main branches

The Saguaro blossom is the State Flower of Arizona. The flowers are visited by bats, bees and doves

When pollinated, the flowers split open to reveal a bright-red, juicy pulp

The succulent fruits each contain 2,000-4,000 small, black seeds

These fruits and seeds are eaten readily by many birds, mammals and insects

The Saguaro is smooth and waxy but the ribs have clusters of stout, 2-inch spines

When the Saguaro absorbs water, the outer pulp can expand like an accordion, increasing its weight by up to a ton

The Saguaqro can cover a wound with a resin-like substance which hardens into a permanent scab. These hardened holes are called "boots."

"Damage caused by frost, insects or other factors can disrupt the apical meristem and the Saguaro develops a crest instead of arms (mostrose growth)

Even after dying, a Saguaro still offers an interesting appearance

Causes of death can be frost, insects or lightening. Because this cactus has no arms, it may have died young

The Saguaro is supported by a ring of 12 to 30, vertical wooden ribs, which can often be seen still standing after the Saguaro dies and the flesh has fallen away

Saguaro rib wood is lightweight and fairly soft. Native Americans used it to make drill sticks for making fire, crosspieces for baby cradles, splints for injured limbs and as wattle in the construction of wattle and daub houses

A Saguaro rib lamp

A Saguaro at sunset