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Traditional Geocache

Not a tree. Yet it talks

A cache by ShadowAce
Hidden : 5/29/2009
In Arizona, United States
1.5 out of 5
1.5 out of 5

Size: Size: micro (micro)

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Geocache Description:

Amazing camo on this tower.
Though this is not a tree. It does speak.
We encourage you to park at the church, not along the road.

Tucson Cell Towers go Green: Stealth Cell Towers

Some information from the U.S. Department of the Interior National Park Service
Saguaro National Park

The Saguaro Cactus

Where do saguaros grow?



How do saguaros grow?


These tiny, young saguaros are very hard to find as they grow under the protection of a “nurse tree”, most often a palo verde, ironwood or mesquite tree. As the saguaro continues to grow, its much older nurse tree may die. Some scientists believe that competition from the saguaro may lead to the death of the nurse tree by taking water and nutrients from the soil in the immediate area.

As a saguaro begins to age, growth rates vary depending on climate, precipitation and location. We do know that the period of greatest growth in a saguaro cactus is from unbranched to branched adult.

Here at Saguaro National Park, branches normally begin to appear when a saguaro reaches 50 to 70 years of age. In areas of lower precipitation, it may take up to 100 years before arms appear.



Why are saguaros pleated?


To accommodate this potentially large influx of water, the pleats expand like an accordion. Conversely, when the desert is dry, the saguaro uses its stored water and the pleats contract.

Because the majority of a saguaro is made up of water, an adult plant may weigh 6 tons or more. This tremendous weight is supported by a circular skeleton of inter-connected, woody ribs. The number of ribs inside the plant correspond to the number of pleats on the outside of the plant. As the saguaro grows, the ribs will occasionally fork and the corresponding pleat will also fork at the same place.

Why are some saguaros crested?

Even when saguaro cacti grow in their normal form, they rarely grow symmetrically. Saguaros sometimes grow in odd or mis-shapen forms. The growing tip occasionally produces a fanlike form which is referred to as crested or cristate. Though these crested saguaros are somewhat rare, over 25 live within the boundaries of the park. Biologists disagree as to why some saguaros grow in this unusual form. Some speculate that it is a genetic mutation. Others say it is the result of a lightning strike or freeze damage. At this point we simply do not know what causes this rare, crested form.

Additional Hints (No hints available.)



172 Logged Visits

Found it 162     Didn't find it 3     Write note 5     Publish Listing 1     Needs Maintenance 1     

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Current Time:
Last Updated: on 4/19/2015 2:36:06 PM Pacific Daylight Time (9:36 PM GMT)
Rendered From:Unknown
Coordinates are in the WGS84 datum