Xerophyte

Seeds

Obovoid, 1,8-2,1 mm long, dark red-brown to blackish, shiny, nearly smooth, and edible.

Phenology

Flowers appear from late April to early June. Fruits ripen from late May until mid July while stems grow mostly during rainy periods in July, August, and September.

Flowers

White and showy 8,5-12,5 cm long, 5-6 cm in across, opening in late afternoon and remaining open until the midday or later of the following day depending on temperature, then closing permanently, funnelform to bell-shaped, with creamy white petals around a dense group of yellow stamens. Pericarpel and floral tube 6-10 cm long, covered with many distinct scales, extending down and clasping, and felted areoles. Though normally found at the end of the main trunk and arms just below the stem tips, flowers may also occur down the sides of the plant. First buds emerging on south or south-west side of the stems. Flowers will continue to be produced throughout a saguaro's lifetime. A stem might produce more than 100 flowers at a time! The saguaro has more stamens per flower than any other cactus flower. To set fruit, flowers must receive pollen from another plant or from flowers on another arm of the same plant

Stem

Columnar, green, 30-75 cm in diameter, unbranched, erect, and straight with (on older plants) one to several branches originating 2-3 m above the base. Stem tissue turning black when cut or injured. The vertical ribs enable Carnegiea stems to expand as moisture is absorbed and to contract as it is used.

Fruits

Obovoid, with scales, spine-less (or occasionally with a few bristly spines), 5-7,5(-10) cm long, 2,5–4,4 cm in diameter, fleshy, green, red or purple at maturity, dehiscent and splitting open, along three or four vertical lines, exposing the bright red interior, the pulp juicy, bright red, sweet, and edible.