saguaro: see cactus.

Saguaro National Park, 91,443 acres (37,021 hectares), SE Ariz. Contained within the desert park are many examples of the saguaro cactus (Cereus giganteus), a monumentally proportioned, now rare species whose blossom is Arizona's state flower. Also growing in the park are other types of cacti and a variety of desert flora. The area was proclaimed a national monument in 1933 and became a national park in 1994. See National Parks and Monuments, table.

Large, candelabra-shaped, branched cactus (Cereus giganteus, or Carnegiea gigantea) native to Mexico, Arizona, and California. Slow-growing at first, mature saguaros may eventually reach 50 ft (15 m) in height. They bloom for the first time when 50–75 years old. They may die at 150–200 years (at a weight of up to 10 tons, or 9,000 kg), most commonly by being uprooted by wind or washouts. Shallow, wide-ranging roots gather moisture from a large area of desert to support the weighty top growth. The white, night-blooming flowers, which remain open into the next day, are the Arizona state flower. The red fruits have been an important food of American Indians.

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Mountain and desert region, southern Arizona, U.S. Established as a national monument in 1933, it became a national park in 1994. It has a total area of 143 sq mi (370 sq km). Its two districts, separated by the city of Tucson, contain forests of saguaro cactus. Plant life also includes paloverde, mesquite, and ocotillo.

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