After my previous posts about crested saguaros (here and here), I've had a few people ask why they grow the fan. It's an easy answer to a tough question -- no one really knows.Botanists do know that the growing point of the cristate, or crested saguaro becomes multiple points which results in the fan-shaped top. Possible reasons include lightning strikes, freeze damage, or mutation. It is a rare condition - of the 1.6 million saguaros in Saguaro National Park, only 25 cresteds have been found.
The crested saguaro in this photo was inside the Desert Museum, a part museum, part zoo, part aviary (including a hummingbird aviary), and part botanical garden here in Tucson. Here are some more pictures from the museum:
3 comments:
You take some very nice pictures.
I like the way you frame the subject in the shot.
May I ask, what kind of camera equipment do you use?
Thanks, Chris!
I have Nikons -- a D70 and a D300. Most of these photos were taken with the Nikkor 105 VR lens, although I also use a wide-angle Tokina frequently.
ZoAnn
Thanks for the camera information.
They are doing you a good job..
The reason I ask is because I'm wanting to replace my old Kodak...
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