Desert Giant: The World of the Saguaro Cactus

Read the most by: boys and girls

A vunerable saguaro cactus stands like a statue in the hot desert lanscape, its armlike branches reaching fifty feet into the air. From a distance it appears to be completely still and solitary---but appearences can be deceptive. In fact, this gaint tree of the desert is alive with activity. its spiny trunk aand branches are home to a surprising number of animals, and its flowers and fruit feed many desert dwellers.Gila woodpeckers and miniature elf owls make their homes inside the saguaro's trunk. Long--nosed bats and fluttering doves drink the nectar from its showy white flowers. People also play a role in the saguaro's story: each year the Tohono O'odham Indians gather its sweet fruit in a centuries--old harvest ritual.