Biggest cacti???

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Ralf
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Re: Biggest cacti???

Post by Ralf »

It's not the biggest but the most branched I've ever seen.
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gemhunter178
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Re: Biggest cacti???

Post by gemhunter178 »

:shock: Did the growing tip die or something?
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John C
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Re: Biggest cacti???

Post by John C »

WOW - That's weird!
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Ralf
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Re: Biggest cacti???

Post by Ralf »

gemhunter, the growth point on the main trunk isn't damaged or dead.
It is a healthy Saguaro so far. It is the most branched Saguaro I've seen in the Tucson area.
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daiv
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Re: Biggest cacti???

Post by daiv »

Ralf, that Saguaro sure is a strange sight. I wonder what caused it to put out all those arms?
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tumamoc
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Re: Biggest cacti???

Post by tumamoc »

Speaking of strange growth, I came across a score of mutant saguaros in the Silverbell Mountains, northwest of Tucson, about five years ago. I never did figure out how they got this way :-k .
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Peterthecactusguy
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Re: Biggest cacti???

Post by Peterthecactusguy »

I can explain that one I THINK. I think it's a monstrose form..
either that or they got hit repeatedly with really cold conditions, which is what I think makes the arms bend down to the ground like the top one has. But I found one that looked like that in Northwest Maricopa County, near Lake Pleasant. (well actually much closer to New River) at first I thought it was a crested one, til I noticed it was more monstrose formed.

the one Ralf put the picture of, I am not sure at all.. that is the weirdest saguaro I have ever seen. Maybe another monstrose form???
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Peterthecactusguy
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Re: Biggest cacti???

Post by Peterthecactusguy »

gemhunter178 wrote::shock: Did the growing tip die or something?
no, you can see all the growth points are healthy. I have never seen a saguaro like that. The sagging arms caused by cold are common. I suspect that the ones in Tumamoc's pictures were all hit by cold reapeatedly or something tho. Since there are some many around that look the similar.
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cactushobbyman
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Re: Biggest cacti???

Post by cactushobbyman »

Strange growth? Maybe it's normal but the occurrence happens at a low rate. Like a recessive gene. :)
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Peterthecactusguy
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Re: Biggest cacti???

Post by Peterthecactusguy »

that would be more like cristate growth.
Here's to you, all you insidious creatures of green..er I mean cacti.
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