Arizona's iconic saguaro cactus is flowering "wrong" -- and no one knows why

[marmar]

Arizona's iconic saguaro cactus is flowering "wrong" — and no one knows why
For the first time in recorded history, the cactus that blooms from its tips is suddenly blooming from its sides

By MATTHEW ROZSA
PUBLISHED MAY 28, 2021 7:00AM





(Salon) The saguaro is to the American southwest what the Empire State Building is to New York City: A breathtaking icon and a symbol of the region. A cactus that branches like a tree, the saguaro can grow to be 40 feet tall with roots spread over 100 feet of ground. They can live for longer than 150 years, meaning there are saguaros alive today that were born when Ulysses S. Grant was president. As the colder seasons give into warmer ones, the saguaro famously sprouts beautiful white flowers that blossom from the tips of their trunks and arms.

At least, that is what they normally do. Arizona news outlets are reporting that many of the cacti are budding on their sides, a phenomenon never seen before. It is a development that has researchers curious — and a little worried.

Obviously, something changed in the saguaros' environment that triggered a mass mis-sprouting. Some researchers believe the culprit may be environmental.

Dr. Benjamin T. Wilder, a desert ecologist and Director of the University of Arizona's Desert Laboratory on Tumamoc Hill, told Salon by email that he suspects the unusual growths may have been caused by normally reproductively active areoles (the bumps on cacti that produce clusters of spines) being damaged by last summer's drought — particularly since the summer was extremely hot and dry. This could have caused the cactus to revive older areoles, which would be lower on the stem, in order to create flowers. ...........(more)

https://www.salon.com/2021/05/28/arizonas-iconic-saguaro-cactus-is-flowering-wrong-and-no-one-knows-why/

[PortTack]

1. They are seriously under stress. During last summer's heat many just fell over, and more will in

The coming months. When old old desert plants just fall over from lack of water...it’s very serious

[Hugh_Lebowski]

2. I'd guess the Gonesoons ...

Moved here in 2008 and the first 7 or so years I was here, there was usually about a 1 month period in the summertime when storms would blow in and dump rain. Always in the late afternoon/early evening. And I mean DUMP rain.

Many (if not all) of the summers there'd be 4 or 7 times this would happen each summer. People around here call them 'the monsoons'.

Well, since about 2015, I remember only one summer that had storms remotely like the ones that used to happen every summer. Some summers have had 0 rain, others only 1 storm.

So I call it the Gonesoon. Monsoon that's no longer happening.

[AZ8theist]

3. Lebo, you are exactly right.

I remember years ago I used to LOVE hanging out on the back patio watching the massive thunderstorms move through the area. I'm one of those weird guys who actually enjoys thunder and lightening.....plus the rain.

The last couple of years, however.......ZILTCH. Not much rain and I can't remember the last actual thunderstorm.

It has to be due to La Nina or a definite shift in weather caused by global warming.

[Hugh_Lebowski]

4. Dude I totally used to go out and watch them! I love that shit!

Esp. cause the temps would drop dramatically. Plus I could turn off the sprinklers (yes I have a small back lawn, it was here when I bought the house) for a while.

And I miss them. It's like they just don't happen anymore. Maybe once a summer lately. Depressing.

[AZ8theist]

6. I agree...

There was NOTHING more exhilarating than having a LOUD BOOM of thunder REALLY REALLY CLOSE!!!

Sometimes I went back inside for fear of getting hit......

But nothing made you feel more alive. I'm with you....I miss them......

[Hugh_Lebowski]

19. I had a couple times where it was like someone shot a cannon like 1 foot from my ear ...

Normally I feel pretty impervious, but when THAT happens, I get the fuck inside

[AZ8theist]

20. You're a little south from me, I believe...

..and I remember seeing some of those strikes. Must have been real close to home......
The closest one to me was about a mile north. Knocked out power for a few hours....

[panader0]

10. Down here (I'm outside Sierra Vista), it's been so dry it's sad.

I put my well in about 1979 and I've learned from the USGS web site that the water table where I am
has dropped at least ten feet in the last 20 years. I'm nervous about going dry.

[StarryNite]

9. I used to love watching the thunderheads build in the afternoons.

They would start in the east/northeast days before they would arrive in the valley. Then they would finally hit and hit hard. The dry washes would run. We have a wide wash in the back of our property that used to run bank to bank. Now it's rare to get a trickle running though it. The morning after a storm it was hot and muggy. The dampness hung over the desert and you just knew the little creatures were enjoying their much needed drinks. And nothing comes close to the wonderful smell of wet creosote.

[Hugh_Lebowski]

18. Other than the low cost of living, the monsoons were among my favoritest parts of living here

Now the Universe has even taken that away

I feel for the critters ... and the cacti.

[MineralMan]

5. Looks like a last-gasp flowering.

Some plants, when they're under great environmental stress divert all of their energy into blooming and fruiting. Then they die. The idea is to reproduce the species at the expense of survival.

That's what I suspect is happening here.

[Hugh_Lebowski]

7. That's what I think too (nt)

[AZ8theist]

8. Lets hope not.

The saguaro are absolutely magnificent plants.....

[panader0]

12. That is happening with many, but not all of the mesquite trees around here.

Some are all flowers and almost zero leaves. What a shame. I chose this acreage because
there were so many trees.

[MineralMan]

14. It's a survival strategy for plants.

[LittleGirl]

11. Lived in PHX and Tucson both during monsoons.

We had a beautiful view in Tucson with scenes about 10-20 miles. The monsoons were amazing to watch cross the valley and not get a drop at our house. The cactus are stressed for sure. They would swell after the rains and shrink in the heat. Amazing plant life really. The crested arms of the cactus were the best. Lots of respect.

[ChazII]

13. Several saguaros

in my neighborhood have been removed. They have been here 60+ years but they are dying and while still home to some critters they are leaning and others are beginning to rot.

I am in south Scottsdale.

[Warpy]

15. There has been massive drought in the southwest for 25 years

and I suggest they explore that avenue of research. It looks like there's still abundant blooming on the tips. Perhaps blooming and fruiting farther down might afford more shelter against desiccation. Or it could always be some godawful agricultural chemical dispersed through the air, although that seems like a long shot.

[peppertree]

16. I can hear the Repugs now: "It's a message from GAWD!"

"That we should do something about climate change?"

"No! That He's angry we let the election be stolen from Trump!!!"

[Duppers]

17. Yep, g.w.