SAGUARO CACTUS

THE SAGUARO CACTUS IS AN ANGIOSPERM AND A DICOT.

PLANT CHARACTERISTICS

• Vascular
• Seeds
• Prickly pears
• Leaf/flower: white flowers in the spring, red fruit in the fall
• Stem: surface may be smooth or covered with tubercules

6. ROOTS

PLANT REPRODUCTION

• Pollinated by bats
• Pollen from male reproductive organs stick to bat or flows with the wind to the females
• Comes together in fertilization and form a zygote
• The delicate flowers usually bloom for a short period of time in the spring at night

PLANT ENVIRONMENT

• Sonoran desert
• Hot
• Little precipitation

PLANT ADAPTATIONS

• Waxy leaves (or needles) to reduce water loss by evaporation
• Huge roots to anchor into the sand
• Huge stem for water storage

PLANT IMPORTANT AND FUN FACTS

• Lifespan of 150 years
• Growth depends on amount of precipitation
• Some never grow arms: called spears
• You can buy a 23 inch cactus at Walmart for $134 or a 6 foot from QVC for $569
• Saguaro blossom is the state wildflower of Arizona: only bloom at night

PLANT FACTS (CONTINUED)

CACTUS VIDEO