Unprecedented saguaro 'side blooms' could be a bad sign

[Ptah]

Unprecedented saguaro 'side blooms' could be a bad sign

Have you noticed a patchy beard of buds on some of the saguaros in your neighborhood?

You’re not imagining things.

Cactus experts are tracking an unprecedented outbreak of “side blooms” on saguaros across Southern Arizona and beyond.

Typically, the giant cacti sprout flowers only around the tips of their arms and trunks, but this year a large number of them are also pushing out buds farther down their stems.

Research ecologist Bill Peachey said he has received reports of saguaros blooming in strange places from the Phoenix area to as far south as San Carlos, Mexico.

“And there are examples all over the Tucson valley,” he said. “It’s a big phenomenon.”

The exact cause is unclear, but the experts agree that the rare display is almost certainly a sign of distress.

https://tucson.com/news/local/unprecedented-saguaro-side-blooms-could-be-a-bad-sign/article_dcc13746-b82f-11eb-bbd6-b375421b76f1.html

[PortTack]

1. Many saguaros just fell over last year due to no water. Sadly more will die in the coming summer

[Hugh_Lebowski]

2. Expending all their stored water and energy to focus on reproduction ...

I fear a great many of the plants doing this are dying, and this is a proverbial last gasp.

[ZZenith]

3. Do you imagine the fact that it's getting too dry and hot for the f*cking CACTUS

might make a tiny crack in the skulls of some of the climate change deniers?

[nocoincidences]

4. This reminds me of what the Fukushiima radiation did to vegetables and plants.

[happybird]

5. Wow! I have never seen photos of that

Off to google more...

[PortTack]

6. Oh my!!

[ChazII]

7. We have at least 8 or 9 saguaro in my neighborhood

and 6 look the one pictured.