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Saguaro Lifecycle


Saguaro Lifecycle
Photo Information
Copyright: SC Davidson (azleader) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 52 W: 2 N: 186] (911)
Genre: Plants
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2005-01-07
Categories: Desert, Cacti
Camera: Sony DSC-F717, 58 mm Polarizer Hoya
Exposure: f/4.5, 1/1000 seconds
Details: Tripod: Yes
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Final Version, Original Version
Date Submitted: 2007-11-10 11:36
Viewed: 2256
Points: 38
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Saguaro Cactus: Carnegiea gigantea

Saguaro cacti can live to be over 200 years old. They grow from tiny seeds to behemoths that can be over 60 feet (18 meters) tall.

There are several interesting aspects of the lifecycle of a saguaro visible in this image.

Youth:
It is a little hard to see but there are a couple armless saguaros growing out of a mesquite bush on the right side of this image on the horizon. Those two are just kids. Saguaros don't develope arms until they are about 70 years old.

Suguaros grow from tiny seeds and need to be protected from direct sunlight in order to survive to maturity. Most saguaros grow in the shade of bushes like you see here. As they grow bigger they eventually take over the area and kill the plant that protected them at birth. You can see how the bush is being pushed aside here as the cacti take over.

Middle Age:
Near the middle is a mature saguaro that has developed arms so is more that 70 years old. You can see that the covering plant is completely gone now. Saguaros spend most of their lives at this stage. That is why saguaros with arms standing alone are our most common view of them.

Death:
In the foreground you can see the dead internal remains of a saguaro. In life the woody spines support the living cactus. They are surrounded by a sponge-like pulp that holds water that sustains the cactus during long dry spells.

At the bottom you can see the decaying remains of the cacti's outer covering. The dark angled piece on the right side of the frame is a fallen spine in shadow.

Often when you see a dead saguaro upright like this one it is because it was struck by lightning and killed. Getting struck by lightning is not uncommon for a saguaro because they act as lightning rods. They normally tend to topple on their sides when they die of natural causes because they have a very shallow root system.

Details:
Picture was taken just after sunrise in Saguaro National Park west of Tucson. Polarizer was used.

Note:
Repost is to replace the BW with a color version of the image.
Alan_Kolnik, Jamesp, Dave has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To jaycee: I agreeazleader 1 12-16 00:03
To manyee: Close Saguaro Trunks...azleader 1 12-09 10:25
To Evelynn: Comment on image "Saguaro Lifecycle"azleader 2 11-11 08:50
To Wasiak: Comment on image "Saguaro Lifecycle"azleader 1 11-10 16:47
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Critiques [Translate]

I am a lover of cacti and succulent and this shows a full life cycle well. Top shot with notes to accompany.

Jai

  • Great 
  • jesst Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 371 W: 0 N: 166] (2329)
  • [2007-11-10 12:30]

Impressive picture. Nice color and composition/ Amazing sky

  • Great 
  • Wasiak (22)
  • [2007-11-10 13:00]
  • [+]

Hello:)
I sow this picture somwhere:)
I B&W is better:)
Regards Pawel:)

Hi,

I like this one a lot, excellent quality, very interesting subject.

TFS

Gio

Hello,

I prefer that one :-)
Love the colors of the sky. Thanks for the note.
Cheers from France,

Emma

Very good nature shot - as you say, shows the whole life cycle in one image. You note is execllent.

very interesting, perhaps too sharpened ? TFS Ori

Hi Steve,

It is interesting to see saguaro in various stages of life and death. I wonder how old the foreground one was considering they grow so slowly. You managed great sharpness, and strong values and color.

TFS
Evelynn : )

  • Great 
  • Jamesp Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1292 W: 0 N: 5307] (16022)
  • [2007-11-10 17:56]

Hi

Lovely shot - great detail + the sky is magnificent.

James

  • Great 
  • Dave Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 525 W: 47 N: 674] (2173)
  • [2007-11-10 18:40]

Fascinating note and a very interesting picture! It caused me to sign in just so I could comment.
Quite excellent! Thanks!

  • Great 
  • Ena Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 365 W: 61 N: 583] (2420)
  • [2007-11-11 2:46]

Hi :)
Amazing picture!
Very interesting information about this Cactus!
Ena :-)

  • Great 
  • erve Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 86 W: 5 N: 112] (538)
  • [2007-11-12 3:38]

Very nice cacti, and interesting note. Love the sky, very dramatic. original idea showing youth to death all in one shot.

TFS

ewan

Good shot
Well composed and good use of teh polariser
Good sharpness

Chris

  • Great 
  • sayat Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 297 W: 0 N: 253] (1449)
  • [2007-11-12 7:20]

Beautiful shot. Excellent composition, great colors and amazing sharpness. The inclusion of the three generations and the notes are fantastic! Thanks for sharing.

Many compliments, this is really a particular and beautiful picture of Saguaro Cactus
best regards
franco

  • Great 
  • manyee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3027 W: 226 N: 5985] (20449)
  • [2007-12-08 23:03]
  • [+]

A very dramatic presentation, Steve.
I like the juxtaposition of the "dead" and the "youthful".
Nice texture on the "skeleton" of the saguaro.
It is such a fascinating plant. I understand that alive or dead, the saguaro plays host to a number of creatures, big and small.
I am surprised, though, that the "trunks" seem to be so close together. With their huge size and their 'arms" sticking out, I would think that they would grow further apart from each other.
A great shot. TFS. : )

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2313 W: 11 N: 6373] (20486)
  • [2007-12-15 11:46]
  • [+]

Hi SC,

Wonderful presentation of the Saguaros in various stages of the life cycle. I knew at first sight just where these were . It is interesting to point out that these cacti and others are protected by Arizona law. The colored picture is lovely but I love the drama of the B&W.

Jane

  • Great 
  • Mana Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1868 W: 36 N: 5488] (18250)
  • [2007-12-21 3:31]

Hi Davidson,
Just marking this wonderful post for the moment, lest I miss it, and will come back with a proper critique later.
Regards.
Sumon

  • Great 
  • Janice Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3328 W: 148 N: 6111] (18631)
  • [2008-08-31 0:35]

Hi Steve, I haven't seen any photos from you for a while - I hope all is well...
Interesting notes to go with your photo here. You describe it well, and seeing the junior armless saguaros and the mature saguaro behind the ancient dead one is helpful for us to understand.
Well captured, thank oyu
Janice

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