A tree-sized cactus native to the Sonoran Desert of Arizona and northwestern Mexico, and among the most recognizable plants of the American Southwest, capable of living more than 150 years and reaching heights over twelve meters, eventually growing the branching arms most associated with its silhouette, though a saguaro typically produces its first arm only after 50 to 70 years of growth. Its pleated, accordion-like trunk expands and contracts to store water absorbed during infrequent desert rains, holding enough to sustain the plant through long dry periods, and its white night-blooming flowers, Arizona's state flower, are pollinated primarily by nectar-feeding bats. Saguaros grow extremely slowly, and legal protections in Arizona restrict removing or damaging wild specimens.
Facts
Classification
DietPhotosynthetic Autotroph 1 System (Realm) Relationship to PeopleEaten or Drunk by People 2 Relationship to PeopleSource of Timber or Wood 2 Living or ExtinctDerived from this species' own Conservation Status: this atlas's IUCN category list has no Extinct value, so a set conservation-status is itself evidence of living status. Scientific Name Conservation StatusIUCN Red List, assessed by Burquez Montijo, Butterworth, Baker and Felger in 2017. Comparison
NatureServe Rank CITES Appendix Connections
Child Taxon Of
Source Wikidata: Saguaro Cactus
Demonstrates
Source Encyclopaedia Britannica
In Biome
In Ecosystem
The saguaro is the signature plant of Saguaro National Park, which sits within the Sonoran Desert.
Source Nature (Saguaro National Park, National Park Service)
Open Questions
Source IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
In the Other Atlases
Originated In
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject originated.
Found In
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Sources
1. Encyclopaedia Britannica
Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc.https://www.britannica.com/plant/saguaro
Ribbed and columnar, a saguaro usually develops five or six branches at a height of about 5 metres (16 feet).
System/realm (stated plainly in the entity own recorded description)
A tree-sized cactus native to the Sonoran Desert of Arizona and northwestern Mexico, and among the most recognizable plants of the American Southwest, capable of living more than 150 years and reaching heights over twelve meters, eventually growing the branching arms most associated with its silhouette, though a saguaro typically produces its first arm only after 50 to 70 years of growth.
- Demonstrates: Photosynthesis
- In Biome: Desert
View the Source 2. Plants For A Future: Carnegiea gigantea
Plants For A FutureOther Uses
Saguaro cactus is a towering symbol of the Sonoran Desert, combining extraordinary ecological importance, deep cultural significance, and high edible value in its fruits and seeds.
Other Uses (construction and tools)
Saguaro ribs were used for construction and tools, including the long poles used in the harvest.
View the Source 3. Saguaro (Wikipedia)
4. NatureServe Explorer: Carnegiea gigantea
NatureServe ExplorerGlobal rank (roundedGRank)Quote, Global rank (roundedGRank)
"roundedGRank": "G5"
5. UNEP-WCMC Species+ database (CITES Secretariat): Species+: Carnegiea gigantea
UNEP-WCMC Species+ database (CITES Secretariat)Species+ taxon_concepts, id 27129Quote, Species+ taxon_concepts, id 27129
"rank":"SPECIES","name_status":"A","updated_at":"2023-04-14T14:47:49.349Z","active":true,"cites_listing":"II"
6. Encyclopedia of Life
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Wikidata: Saguaro Cactus
- Wikidata Q275573, class allow-list match (w-wdresolver-0926)
- Child Taxon Of: Cactaceae, Wikidata parent-taxon (P171) chain
View the SourceNature (Saguaro National Park, National Park Service)
National Park ServiceIn Ecosystem: Sonoran Desert, Nature - Saguaro and the Sonoran DesertQuote, In Ecosystem: Sonoran Desert, Nature - Saguaro and the Sonoran Desert
Saguaro National Park is in the Sonoran Desert, which is the most biodiverse desert.
Open Questions (1 open question)
How Many Wild Saguaro Cacti Exist?
Regional density surveys exist within protected areas such as Saguaro National Park, but the IUCN's own assessment does not extrapolate them into a single rangewide total, so no honest total-population figure can be given.
What would resolve this A coordinated rangewide census across the full Sonoran Desert distribution, extending the plot-based methods already used inside individual protected areas.
Botany and desert ecologyIUCN Red List of Threatened Species
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