Monday, March 26, 2018

An amazing crested saguaro

I love the magnificent saguaros we see in southern Arizona. Especially interesting are the "crested" saguaros, which have a fan-like growths instead of -- or in addition to -- human-looking arms. Per the Saguaro National Forest website, it's not known what causes a cactus to crest. Maybe a freeze, perhaps a genetic mutation. Even lightening strikes have been suggested as a cause, although it would have to be a minor bolt because we've seen saguaros that were blasted apart by lightening. 

This year we noticed a huge crested saguaro right off the main entrance to Tucson's Davis Monthan Air Force Base, where we are staying in our RV.  We've camped at Davis Monthan six out of the last eight years and have never noticed this particular saguaro before. It must have been transplanted recently, as the poles supporting (plus a fabric fence around it) suggest. But no matter when it showed up, it's beautiful.
The crested saguaro near the entrance to the Davis Monthan Air Force Base at the corner of Craycroft and Golf Links Roads. I did an online search for any news about it being transplanted and couldn't find anything.  But it must have been moved from somewhere else, which is a big job.
A close up of part of the crest. Just amazing.

3 comments:

  1. Az Cactus and tree transplanting that Saguaro and came from the inside of the Davis-Monthan base

    ReplyDelete
  2. When and why did this amazing cactus collapse? So sad.

    ReplyDelete