Saguaro Cactus (Carnegiea gigantea) seeds

The branched Saguaro Cactus gets up to 200 years old and 12 metres high and is defining for the landscape of Southern North America. It's especially spread in the Sonoran desert in Mexico and in Arizona which emblem it even decorates. It's the typical 'Western Cactus' and, as such, has an enormously high memorability and, not least because of that, was elected Cactus of 2017.

Its flat, broadly branched root system works as a 'trap net' for water and directly leads it into the multiply folded stem, which can, depending on the size of the water reservoir, serve for hundreds of litres. After strong precipitation, like this, it also survives extremely extensive drought periods of up to one year. A fully grown Saguaro weighs several tons. Nearly 90% of its weight is made up of saved water.

Because of its noticeable growth form, 'Candelabra Cactus' also is a widespread name - but until the first arm sprouts, 75-100 years might pass. On top of that, good growth conditions and a regular water supply are crucial. Until the first heyday, it takes 25-50 years. It blooms between April and June and forms small, white blossoms. The Saguaro is, in addition, an old Indian crop that was used as timber and which seeds were used for the production of flour. From the fruits of the cactus, a wine-like drink was fermented in its homeland.