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Saguaro National Park (p. 6)
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Plants
In the minds of most people desert conjures images of an empty, desolate landscape. But the Sonora Desert is home to some 2700 plant species, and the section within the confines of Saguaro National Park is the lushest portion of this desert. A relatively high level of moisture--both summer and winter storms visit the area in a typical year--supports an impressive variety of desert plants which have developed diverse strategies for making the best use of the moisture available to them. For example, very few desert plants have leaves which would permit too much evaporation of precious moisture.
A common plant in the desert is the teddy bear cholla. This plant can be found all over the desert in the park.
This plant provides two faces. It's lovely to look at, with its mixture of silver and green. But it's painful to experience close-up; the round sections of the plant quickly and firmly attach themselves to the skin so easily that they sometimes seem to jump aggressively! This characteristic is responsible for the plant's other common name--the jumping cholla. Removing a jumping cholla lodged in the skin is a painful experience.
The pink colors of some flowering plants are particularly striking during the spring.
The bloom of the cholla, visible in the spring, is a lovely yellow and maroon combination.
If the visitor looks up the saguaro dominates the scene, but if the gaze drops toward the desert floor it's likely to fall on the prickly pear cactus and its familiar flat appendages.
Like many cacti, the prickly pear cactus develops beautiful blooms in the spring, as can be seen in this picture below.
A closeup of a beautiful yellow bloom can be seen below.
The flowers of desert cactus come in all hues and shapes.
Another cactus bloom is pictured below.
The beautiful flowers which are abundant in the desert are kind of surprising, since many believe there is nothing but sand and dirt in this environment. But the cactus of various types add immeasurably to the beauty of the landscape.
Another member of the cactus family common in the Sonora Desert is the barrel cactus, seen on the left side of this view below.
It's relatively easy to confuse the barrel cactus with a young saguaro. The easiest way to differentiate the two is to focus on the barrel cactus's spines, which are red.
More views of the flowers and fruit of these plants can be seen below.
A closeup view is shown here.
One of the loveliest plants of the desert in the spring is the ocotillo. This plant has an unusual but effective method of conserving the water it needs to live. During the dry months of the year the plant sheds all of its leaves and "plays dead." When the rains come it breaks out all of its foliage and literally "comes to life."
In the spring the beautiful red flowers of the plant are on display and add a touch of color to the desert floor.
The ocotillo certainly has an unusual look during this time of year, with no foliage whatsoever until the very end of the branch.
The deep red color of the ocotillo flower draws the eye as the visitor walks through the desert.
Many other plants are found in the desert, including the mesquite and the palo verde which can be seen in the pictures below. The palo verde conserves water by dropping its leaves during the dry summer months. The mesquite is a very common plant in the desert and conserves water by folding its leaves together in dry conditions. It's roots go down as far as 40 feet below the desert floor seeking water. The plant provided food and firewood for generations of Indians and pioneers.
An additional view of these plants is shown here.
More of the desert vegetation can be seen below, including desert blooms.
Bright colors brighten the desert floor.
The desert marigold is one of the brightest and most colorful of the desert flowers. This plant, which favors sandy locations, continues to bloom through the summer and autumn. It is also sometimes called the "paper daisy."
The desert is also home to many different kinds of animals who have adapted to the difficult conditions. Not the least of these are the omnipresent lizards who can often be seen scampering across the desert floor. This is probably a zebratail lizard pictured below. These animals typically run about in a way which makes them look like they are scampering on their "tippy toes"; this is an adaptation which enables them to keep their body above the very hot desert floor.
Another fellow of the same type is seen perched on a rock on the desert floor. These cold-blooded reptiles ordinarily try to avoid the heat of the day while hunting for insects.
The stately saguaro provides the perfect perch for one of the many desert birds, possibly a cactus wren.
References
Information about Saguaro National Park has been drawn from personal experience, data available in the park itself, and a number of other sources, including:
- America's Wonderlands: The National Parks. Washington, D.C.: National Geographic Society, 1959.
- Bowers, Janice Emily. (2003). Frequently Asked Questions About the Saguaro. Tucson, AZ: Southwest Parks and Monuments Association.
- Cornett, James, W. The Saguaro Cactus: Answers to Frequently Asked Questions. Palm Springs, CA: Palms Springs Desert Museum, 1994.
- Evans, Doris. Saguaro National Monument. Tucson, AZ: Southwest Parks and Monuments Association, 1993.
- Evans, Doris. Saguaro National Park. Tucson, AZ: Southwest Parks and Monuments Association, 1993.
- Ganci, Dave. Saguaro National Park. InThe Sierra Club Guides to the National Parks: Desert Southwest.. New York: Stewart, Tabori, & Chang, 1996.
- Houk, Rose. Saguaro: Bajada Loop Drive. Southwest Parks and Monuments Association, 1994.
- Leach, Nicky J. (1992). The Guide to the National Parks of the Southwest. Tucson, AZ: Southwest Parks and Monuments Association.
- Nabham. Gary. Saguaro: A View of Saguaro National Monument and the Tucson Basin. Tucson, AZ: Southwest Parks and Monuments Association, 1986.
- National Parks of North America. Washington, DC: National Geographic Society, 1995.
- Our National Parks. Pleasantville, NY: Reader's Digest Associates, 1989.
- Robinson, Mary, & Priehs, T.J. Saguaro: Reflections on the Cactus Forest Drive. Southwest Parks and Monuments Association, 1984.
- Shelton, Napier. Saguaro: Official National Park Handbook. National Park Service, 1985.
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