Crested Saguaro

Photo by Kelly Rausch

Have you ever seen a more interesting saguaro?  Crested saguaros are extremely rare, and usually form the "fasciation" instead of arms.  Normal plant growth occurs at a single point, but in this case, the point becomes a cylinder, elongating the growth area, creating these undulating folds.  For this cactus to then begin growing normal arms out of this mutation is very unusual.  Doesn't it look as if he is in the middle of a hold up, facing an outlaw's gun?  If you happen to be up at the Desert Mountain private golf community, you can see this beauty.  Desert Mountain sits on 8000 acres of Sonoran Desert with 6 championship Jack Nicklaus golf courses.