The Mysterious Crested Saguaro

The Mysterious Crested Saguaro takes an in-depth look into this extremely rare mutation of the saguaro cactus. In 2016, still little is known about what causes this strange growth or how often it occurs. A small group call the Crested Saguaro Society started photographing and documenting all the crested saguaros they could find. Their work has reshaped our knowledge and understanding of the cactus.
Producer/Editor: Andrew Brown
Videographers: Nate Huffman, Omar Lopez, Sandra Westdahl Steve Riggs

[@karmajangchup]

I just moved to Tucson and the regal Suguaros were one of the reasons I came here! I love them!

[@Lemmiethinkitover]

One of my favorite things to stumble on to! I've been photographing them for a few years now, probably up to about ten or so. Great work, gets me excited!

[@risenfromyoutubesashesagai6302]

Catcti can be crested, monstrose, or variegated. Crested you see here, almost sea shell looking growth and my favorite cactus mutation. Monstrose, they acquire many growing tips, or heads, and look like many headed clumped cacti into one. Variegated cacti will have yellows in its skin, where it should be solid green. I love crested forms of all cacti, but any crests that i had, they would be much more sensitive to water and one good rain while youre stuck at work would be a death sentence. So the crests i found in stores have rotted, and my cacti since have been hardier, "normal" growing cacti. You would be surprised what you can find in Home Depot or Lowe's in their plant sections in spring. Nothing beats a crested form of a cactus from the genus Mammilaria.

[@javiervm332]

This is amazing!!! Thanks for sharing 🌵🙂🙏🏻

[@timothyperry7760]

USMC say no more! God Bless YOU and thanks, I'll see You soon retiring from Maine to Tucson, please show Me the way.

[@lovineveryminuetofit1314]

If you're traveling from Globe Az, to Young Az you will see one! It's my favorite cactus ever, and have recently found out it was called Crested Saguaro! Anyways I named it Marge, lol Marge is on the 288 headed to Young Az. I wish I could post a pic for you!

[@sandratessem9980]

Love this video

[@lindacardell4767]

Rest in Peace Uncle Bob

[@poke_cactushobby3780]

What a cool video.

[@lovineveryminuetofit1314]

Crazy, I'm glad I found this video. There isnone on the way to Young, Az from Globe,Az. It's super cool, I drive medical transportation and see it several times a month, I become so fond of it, I've named it Marge! If I could post a pic I would. Peace

[@marieurbina2545]

Amazing

[@karensertich8904]

There was one off of Thornydale Road that was on my way home from school in the late 60s or early 70s when the road was dirt!

[@raw-goldenskull4658]

people who live in arizona are lucky

[@chagassantos7524]

MUITO LINDOS SHOW SHOW

[@lakakl3787]

One of these days I will get to see the desert.

[@patriciahazeltine9986]

I have lived here over 5 years in Quartzsite and have never noticed a crested saguaro. I will look for them, keep my eyes open. I did notice that my closest saguaro has bloomed for a second time, and I have never seen that happen before! I think it could have something to do with our more successful monsoon season.

[@nachoandsancho5218]

Pretty rare. An easy one to see, at least in the valley, is in the Desert Botanical Garden at Papago Park.

[@treemoses575]

I love it

[@danthomas6587]

I'd crest too if I was probbed by aliens.

[@johng4093]

My dream is to become a Saquaro Expert some day 😊

[@enamored1]

One of the best ones is at Sabino at the first easy nature loop.

[@Divercitylife]

does anyone know anything about the one at 0:47 ?

[@DX413RB8]

this what you get for being a cactus

[@debpeterson446]

One in quail creek by the labyrinth, green valley

[@Stefan_Eccles]

🔥🌵

[@SkullDivisioN564]

🌵👽🌵

[@sahara4555]

Bob though.

[@nancyhough9998]

BOBBY CARDELL, FORMER MARINE HAS NOW ASCENDED TO SAGUARO HEAVEN. REST IN PEACE SWEET UNCLE!!!!!

[@SilverNightFG]

I miss the hunting and hiking with him, Was so great to hear his voice after so many years.

[@nancyhough9998]

@@SilverNightFG HE SURE DID LOVE HUNTING..OF ALL KINDS...AND HE WAS GOOD AT IT TOO. HE WAS MY UNCLE, AND THE LAST SURVIVOR OF HIS SIBLINGS.

[@TobiBaronski]

Aw I got to this video from that article quoting him

[@nancyhough9998]

@@TobiBaronski HE PHOTOGRAPHED AND PINPOINTED THOUSANS OF THEM.

[@nilmamariateixeirademouram1634]

❤❤❤

[@ChileniaChilensis]

Subtítulos en español por favor!

[@christined3953]

are those bird holes?

[@mannys9130]

Yes. Woodpeckers make holes in the cactus. Owls and birds make nests in them.

[@cacatr4495]

@@mannys9130 While in normal Saguaros, birds do make nests, that is not the case with these. Birds won't make nest-holes so close together. These are part of the growth aberration. With the pleats abnormally compacted, the tissue would be tougher than normal, and harder for the birds to work with.

[@CrestedSaguaro520]

I've always been fascinated by the crested Saguaro. That's why it's my KZbin name and profile photo. 🌵

[@CrestedSaguaro520]

Mr. 44 yeah Hister! I'm obsessed with crested Saguaros! 😆 💑

[@Akainu299]

I had no idea these existed and I went to Arizona lol

[@cacatr4495]

06:42

[@marieurbina2545]

Loveit's saguaro

[@quetoihaimua8430]

saguaro crest

[@NWforager]

prolly Aliens . Yep .. ALiens

[@patriciahazeltine9986]

I wonder if a fungus could be the cause of the cresting.

[@risenfromyoutubesashesagai6302]

Growth mutation, it happens in all cacti and euphorbia plants.

[@tvviewer4500]

What if the mechanism that accounts for the pleats isn't out of control, but rather is due to the cactus becoming bored just growing as a straight saguaro. It is a conscious decision by the cactus to be interesting.

[@lovineveryminuetofit1314]

Lol ok

[@tvviewer4500]

@@lovineveryminuetofit1314 Lol ok

[@chisanakabu6551]

It's not cancer, it's a genetic mutation. They said it in the video; cresting happens in nearly every type of cactus and it's way more common in cultivation than what it sounds like in the video. You can take a non-crested cutting from a cresting plant and it will usually form a crest after a while.

[@grantmccoy6739]

Super cool mutation. Each spine cluster can flower! That is absolute shocking. That would be so amazing to see a cactus in full bloom! Perhaps the cresting is caused by all that extra co2 in the air maybe. 😂

[@SGhosht]

“The Last of Cact-Us”

[@SassyTHC]

looks like a bunch of deflated cactus branches... maybe they just unable to fill up with as much water as the others

[@coolandgreen1]

Cactus Cancer.

[@chad7148]

Global warming.