ABSTRACT
This “monarch of the desert,” as it is sometimes known, is native to the Sonoran Desert of extreme southeastern California, southern Arizona, and adjoining northwestern Mexico. The fluted surface of the trunk allows the cactus to absorb water by expanding like an accordion during rains and shrinking during dry periods. Plants may weigh 5-12 tons, and can gain a ton of weight from water absorption during a rain. Depending on how recently it rained, the water content of a saguaro varies from 80% to 95%. The saguaro does not tolerate saline or waterlogged soils, or prolonged freezing. The saguaro cactus is a spectacular plant, the largest cactus in the United States, and probably the most recognized cactus in the world, commonly shown as background in Wild West movies and Roadrunner/Coyote cartoons.
