As one of the symbols of the American West, the giant saguaro cactus is also known as the “giant of the desert,” with a lifespan of up to 150 years.

The giant saguaro cactus is native to the Sonoran Desert, Arizona, USA and is the state’s iconic wild plant. Also, this unique cactus is distributed in the Mexican state of Sonora and a small part of California.

The outer layer of the giant saguaro cactus is green, the stem is thick, smooth, covered with spines to limit water evaporation. Most giant cacti are cylindrical in shape, with many small branches growing upwards.

However, sometimes they will develop in a fan shape on the branches of the tree. This phenomenon is called the crested crest phenomenon, also known as cresting, which is very rare. the crested cactus is estimated to occur at a rate of 1 in 200,000 plants.

Initially, very few cases of crested cacti were discovered, but to date, more than 2,000 abnormally growing cacti have been discovered, and biologists believe the phenomenon may be more.

According to the Scottsdale Convention and Visitors Bureau: “The most widely accepted hypothesis is that the top of the tree has been affected by humans, by machines, or by nature, by microorganisms. nisms, so it is deformed and crested.

However, this deformation does not harm the development and reproduction of the desert giants.

Sаguaro cаctus have a relatively long lifespan. It takes up to 75 years to develop a sub-branch. some trees can live up to 150 years.

The growth rate of this succulent depends largely on rainfall. Every time it rains, this succulent will completely absorb the rainwater and store it, slowly consuming it.

A fan-shaped crest of the giant saguaro cactus.

The foreground of the ridge is as large as the trunk of the cactus.