The saguaro cactus flower is the state flower of Arizona, recognized in 1931. The saguaro cactus is the largest cactus in the US, native to northern Mexico and the southwestern US. The flowers bloom at night and are pollinated by bats. Damaging a saguaro cactus is illegal in Arizona.
The state flower of Arizona is the saguaro cactus flower. The cactus flower was first adopted in 1901 as the territorial flower of Arizona. It was later designated the state flower of Arizona by an act of the Arizona General Assembly in 1931. The sauro cactus is the largest cactus growing in the United States. It’s important to note that the cactus flower is recognized as the state flower of Arizona and not the cactus itself.
The saguaro cactus made its first appearance as a state symbol in 1863, when the state seal was designed by Richard Cunningham McCormick, the first secretary of the Arizona Territory. While the first design was not well received, changes authorized by the legislature in 1864 resulted in a state seal that depicted a backdrop of mountain scenery with a cactus as the center point at the forefront of the scene. The saguaro cactus flower was officially recognized as the state flower of Arizona on March 16, 1931.
Native to northern Mexico, parts of California, and the Sonoran Desert in the southwestern United States, the saguaro cactus can live up to 200 years. It generally reaches about 40-50 feet (about 12-15 meters) tall and the waxy white flowers bloom in late May to early June. These giant cacti are slow growing and can take up to 75 years to produce a lateral shoot.
Saguaro cactus flowers have a waxy appearance and a fragrant scent. Flowers generally appear at the tip of the cactus’ arms, and the cactus can produce flowers for more than a month. The Arizona state flower is unique in that the flowers open at night and close around noon the next day. In late summer, the closed flowers turn into red fruits which are consumed by the local bird population.
Cross-pollination is necessary for saguaro flowers to bloom and produce its red fruit in late summer. Bats are the primary pollinators of saguaro cactus flowers, as many of the cactus flowering characteristics are geared towards the bat population. The nocturnal blooms, height, and long-lasting flowers make it easy for bats to feast on the plant’s rich nectar.
Damaging a saguaro cactus in any way is illegal in the state of Arizona. If any saguaro cacti are in the vicinity of where construction is underway, special precautions must be taken to transplant each cacti before construction can begin. Saguaro cactus is also commonly referred to as sahuara, giant cactus, and pithava.
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