Inside Saguaro Cactus

Saguaro Cactus of the Sonoran Desert

Have you ever wondered what the inside of a Saguaro looks like? These cactus have fibrous ribs that look like wood and kind of look like re-bar reinforcement in a concrete column.

The Saguaro cactus skeletons are fascinating. Most cactus seem to topple over when they die but some remain upright leaving the wood like ribs still standing, outlining  the shape of the living cactus.

Saguaro are believed to live as long as 150 – 200 years and take 75 years to grow the side arms. They can weigh 3000 to 4800 pounds when they are full of water.

Saguaro cactus ribs in a dead and dried out cactus.

Saguaro Cactus of Arizona

Large clusters of cactus thrive in the hills around Tucson.

The ribs of the Saguaro are like wood and used historically for making furniture, fences, and in the roofs of local homes.

Coatimundi in Sabino canyon taken with a cell phone camera.

Now days the Saguaro cactus are protected and it is no longer permitted to harvest these cactus or even cut them down to make room for new construction projects.

Coatimundi walking around in Sabino canyon taken with cell phone.

Structure at the De Grazia Gallery in the Sun.

Wheelbarrow with prickley pear cactus.

Saguaro cactus roots and ribs.

The coatimundi looks like a cross between a small bear and a raccoon with a pointy snout.

Sagauro cactus in the desert.

Sagauro sunset.

Saguaro of the Sonoran Desert