Shady Saguaro

[tumamoc]

This Carnegiea gigantea was found growing up into the ceiling of a rock overhang. There is a little sliver of sunlight that moves throughout the top of the alcove during the day, but that is all the crest of the plant will ever get. I doubt I'll ever get back to this spot again, but I would really like to know how the cactus adapts to this situation, if it can.

[cortez753]

Etiolation.

[7george]

You should tell it to produce an arm out of the cave and up. But this cactus is too young for branching...

[Brunãozinho]

Interesting one, but branching should not be impossible if it's what it takes for this plant to keep growing, my guess.

[iann]

It is going to have to make some serious life choices soon ...

[Aiko]

I doubt I'll ever get back to this spot again

Do you have the GPS data for this location?

I think it will etiolate all the way up, maybe finally reaching the top. I don't know how high that is, but I would not be surprised if it would wiggle itself through a small room in between the rocks.

[tumamoc]

Do you have the GPS data for this location?

I think it will etiolate all the way up, maybe finally reaching the top. I don't know how high that is, but I would not be surprised if it would wiggle itself through a small room in between the rocks.

I do have the location, but I was far from home and this is in the middle of nowhere! I predict the saguaro will smash into the rocky ceiling, damage its crown, then send a new growth along and out the sunny side of the overhang.

[KittieKAT]

Lol it will flatten itself and then it will think twice about putting is next growth in the same position lol

[KittieKAT]

Is it okay if I share this photo with the kids in my nonprofit community program? It would be fun to see what the kids (especially the younger one's) think about this cactus