• Crested saguaro 🌵

    12 gennaio 2025, Stati Uniti ⋅ ☀️ 10 °C

    Came across a crested saguaro 🌵 today on a guided geology walk. Nice that she was also pointing out interesting flora.
    Here are some interesting facts.

    A crested saguaro, also known as a cristate saguaro, is a rare type of saguaro cactus with a fan-shaped crest on its main stem or arms.

    Rarity
    Only about 1 in 200,000 saguaros develop a crest, and they usually start to do so when they are 60 to 80 years old.
    Causes
    The exact cause of the crest is unknown, but some speculate it's a genetic mutation, while others think it's due to freeze damage or lightning.
    Flowers
    Crested saguaros produce flowers that open around midnight and last until noon the next day.
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