Largest Cactus of America

                   Necessary information on Largest Cactus

 

Common Name:  Saguaro 

Scientific Name:  Carnegiea Gigantea    

Height: 12 - 18 m

Span: 18 - 24 inches

Growth Rate: Slow
Family: Cactaceae

Species: C. gigantea

Genus: Carnegiea

Class: Equisetopsida

Fruit: red, 3-4in long, oval, edible (and tasty) but spiny

Key uses: Ornamental, food, construction material, firewood, important in local traditions.  
 

The saguaro is the  Largest cactus in the US commonly reaching 38 feet tall. Saguaro is the Largest cactus in the United States of America and its flower is the state flower of Arizona.The saguaro cactus can grow over fifteen meter and live up to two hundred years. Saguaro is slow growing cactu. cactus dominates the whole region because the Arizona receives high quantity of downfall double a year. Saguaro produces flowers mostly in spring that are bell-shaped and 8-10 cm wide. Bats, bees and birds are the main consumers as well as pollinators of saguaros. Largest Cactus can only be found in Arizona and Mexico. The Saguaro was also photographed extensively by the legendary Ansel Adams a testimony of it's architectural beauty.

Saguaros(Largest Cactus) have a relatively long life span. They take up to 75 years to develop a side arm. A saguaro without arms is called a spear. Its  Largest Cactus because in America and its so popular.

  Saguaro  Flowers Buds

  Close view of Saguaro Spines

  Saguaro  Flowers

 Saguaro  Fruit

  Saguaro  Cactus Flower Bud 

Saguaro  Sapling

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Necessary information on Olive Tree

Olive Tree, Olea Europaea

Necessary information on Olive Tree

Common Name: Olive Tree
Scientific Name: Olea Europaea
Height: 5 m
Growth Rate: slow
Sun Tolerance: Full sun

Olive tree has long represented wealth, abundance, power and peace. The olive has been a symbol of the Mediterranean since time immemorial, and has a reputation for long life, nourishment and its ability to thrive in tough conditions. Its primary product, olive oil, is revered throughout the world for its distinctive flavor. Homer called it 'liquid gold'. In ancient Greece, athletes rubbed olive oil over their bodies, and victorious competitors received no trophies or medals; instead the symbol of supreme honor was the olive wreath placed on their heads. There are claims of 1,600 year old trees still producing fruit. The beauty of Olive trees are the age old elfish looking trunks when it gets old. A few of these ancient trees would make your garden look etherea.

History Of Olive Trees:

Olive trees, 'Olea europaea,' are the oldest fruit trees and certainly are one of the most important fruit trees in history. Olive tree culture has been closely connected to the rise and fall of Mediterranean empires and other advanced civilizations throughout the ages. Because olive trees offered wealth and future food supplies to established civilizations, the agricultural nations became stable societies, resulting from a secure expectation from past experience of an uninterrupted food and olive oil supply. This factor was a necessary requirement for population growth and increase. Dependable fruit production and olive oil production means that olive trees must exist in a stable society and a peaceful environment. That stability must extend for many years, since most ancient seedling olive trees required eight or more years before ever producing the first crop of fruit.

Old Olive Tree Trunk

Old Olive Tree

Olive Tree Fruit

Century old twisted olive tree trunk 

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