October 17, 2012

arizona's flora: the cactus, in many forms



because i live in arizona
i get to have lunch meetings
at super cool places
(check out pictures from my last visit above.)




 while i was there this time
i took the opportunity to
look at the local flora,
which consists almost solely of cacti,
of course.

















i recently learned a lot 
about the saguaro cactus
and it is a pretty nifty plant.

the saguaro can grow up to 60 feet tall
and can weigh over 4000 pounds.
their root system is very shallow
but can expand out as far wide
as the saguaro is tall.
they can live to be 150-200 years old
but takes almost 40 years to flower
and 70 years before it will grow an arm.


i'm sorry,
but that's bananas.




plus, it's a $10,000 fine 
if you mess with them.

crazy.








ps. there are tons of kinds of barrel cacti.
but the important information is that
they contain a crap ton of water in them.
so if you're ever stranded in the desert
the barrel cactus could save your life.
just thought you should know.

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