Saguaro Cactus

Scientific Name: Carnegiea gigantea
Category: Plant / Cactus
Habitat: Sonoran Desert
Lifespan: 150–200 years

Overview:
The saguaro is the most iconic symbol of the Sonoran Desert. Growing slowly, sometimes taking decades to sprout arms, saguaros serve as living towers of life, water storage, and shelter.

Adaptations:

• Accordion-like ribs expand to store rainwater

• Thick waxy skin reduces moisture loss

• Shallow root systems quickly absorb rainfall

Ecosystem Role:
Provides nesting sites, food, shade, and water for countless desert species.

DESERT° Notes:
Saguaros are living timelines — standing as witnesses to centuries of desert change.