Post by the Scribe on May 29, 2021 9:28:22 GMT
‘Extremely rare phenomenon’ reported among centuries-old cacti in Arizona desert
www.yahoo.com/news/extremely-rare-phenomenon-reported-among-124108652.html
Mark Price
Fri, May 28, 2021, 5:41 AM
A hint of crazy things to come may be playing out in the Arizona desert — and it involves a giant species of cacti.
Saguaros, which can live for centuries and grow up to nearly 80 feet, have erupted in blooms that appear to be spreading like a rash across their prickly skin.
www.azed.gov/sites/default/files/2019/02/Saguaro%20Fun%20Facts.pdf?id=5c648cc51dcb250cd045f4ad
It’s happening in the Sonoran Desert and experts suspect it’s an example of how the warming environment is impacting even the oldest of plants.
A rare phenomenon is unfolding in Arizona: Saguaros cacti, which live centuries, have erupted in blooms that are spreading across their bodies like a rash.
“Tucson residents are witnessing an extremely rare phenomenon: saguaro blooms are literally busting out all over,” the Sonoran Desert Network & Desert Research Learning Center reported May 26 on Facebook.
“Saguaros typically bloom in spring. And when they do, the blooms are usually confined to a crown at the very top of the main body or mature arms,” the center wrote. “But after an unseasonal bloom last fall, saguaro flowers are now appearing down the length of main stems and arms, and — remarkably — even on small buds.”
The odd behavior takes on added significance given the saguaro’s long life span.
“An adult saguaro is generally considered to be about 125 years of age,” the National Park Service reports. “The average life span of a saguaro is probably 150-175 years of age. However, biologists believe that some plants may live over 200 years.”
www.nps.gov/sagu/planyourvisit/upload/The%20Saguaro%20Cactus.pdf
Saguaro are considered to be a “symbol of the American west,” yet they are rare, NPS officials say. “These majestic plants, found only in a small portion of the United States, are protected by Saguaro National Park” near Tuscon.
www.nps.gov/sagu/index.htm
While beautiful, the flowering phenomenon is foreboding, leaving botanists wondering what will happen next. There has been anecdotal evidence in the past year that other plants are blooming out of season across the country, including prickly pears in Arizona, hyacinth bulbs in Illinois, and aloe vera in Southern California, McClatchy News reported last year.
www.theolympian.com/news/nation-world/national/article247573780.html
“The reasons for all this are unclear, but it’s notable that 2020 brought Tucson its hottest summer and second-driest monsoon on record — leading some longtime observers to hypothesize that the extraordinary bloom is a stress response,” the center wrote.
“Whether this current reproductive profusion results in widespread saguaro recruitment will depend on what happens next.”
imgur.com/klI23Ed
www.yahoo.com/news/extremely-rare-phenomenon-reported-among-124108652.html
Mark Price
Fri, May 28, 2021, 5:41 AM
A hint of crazy things to come may be playing out in the Arizona desert — and it involves a giant species of cacti.
Saguaros, which can live for centuries and grow up to nearly 80 feet, have erupted in blooms that appear to be spreading like a rash across their prickly skin.
www.azed.gov/sites/default/files/2019/02/Saguaro%20Fun%20Facts.pdf?id=5c648cc51dcb250cd045f4ad
It’s happening in the Sonoran Desert and experts suspect it’s an example of how the warming environment is impacting even the oldest of plants.
A rare phenomenon is unfolding in Arizona: Saguaros cacti, which live centuries, have erupted in blooms that are spreading across their bodies like a rash.
“Tucson residents are witnessing an extremely rare phenomenon: saguaro blooms are literally busting out all over,” the Sonoran Desert Network & Desert Research Learning Center reported May 26 on Facebook.
“Saguaros typically bloom in spring. And when they do, the blooms are usually confined to a crown at the very top of the main body or mature arms,” the center wrote. “But after an unseasonal bloom last fall, saguaro flowers are now appearing down the length of main stems and arms, and — remarkably — even on small buds.”
The odd behavior takes on added significance given the saguaro’s long life span.
“An adult saguaro is generally considered to be about 125 years of age,” the National Park Service reports. “The average life span of a saguaro is probably 150-175 years of age. However, biologists believe that some plants may live over 200 years.”
www.nps.gov/sagu/planyourvisit/upload/The%20Saguaro%20Cactus.pdf
Saguaro are considered to be a “symbol of the American west,” yet they are rare, NPS officials say. “These majestic plants, found only in a small portion of the United States, are protected by Saguaro National Park” near Tuscon.
www.nps.gov/sagu/index.htm
While beautiful, the flowering phenomenon is foreboding, leaving botanists wondering what will happen next. There has been anecdotal evidence in the past year that other plants are blooming out of season across the country, including prickly pears in Arizona, hyacinth bulbs in Illinois, and aloe vera in Southern California, McClatchy News reported last year.
www.theolympian.com/news/nation-world/national/article247573780.html
“The reasons for all this are unclear, but it’s notable that 2020 brought Tucson its hottest summer and second-driest monsoon on record — leading some longtime observers to hypothesize that the extraordinary bloom is a stress response,” the center wrote.
“Whether this current reproductive profusion results in widespread saguaro recruitment will depend on what happens next.”
imgur.com/klI23Ed