Carnegiea gigantea

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It is difficult to talk about Arizona and not about Saguaro. The Saguaro is still a difficult plant to grow. It grows very slowly. In the wild, it can take over 100 years to be tall enough for an arm to develop. In cultivation, with proper care, it can grow 8 inches a year (20 cm) or more.
The success rate in transplanting a mature saguaro is low. This being said, a mature saguaro is a conversation piece.

Saguaro, Sahuaro

Cereus giganteus 

Blooming Habits:
The Saguaro blooms in May to June. The flowers open in the evening and stay open until mid day the following day. Bats and doves are the main pollinators. The fruit ripens a month later and can be eaten raw or made into jam and pastries.

Propagation:
The seeds are extremely small and the seedlings stay extremely small for several years. You can keep a small saguaro for years in a pot, before it grows too big.

(Saguaro, Sahuaro, Pitahaya) This species is a huge columnar, candelabra shaped cactus growing to 12 meters in height, and living as long as 200 years. Slow growing when young, it may be only 15 cm high after 10 years. Native to Arizona, Southeastern California and the Sonora desert in Mexico. It is day flowering species with 12 cm long white, funnel shaped blooms. First described in 1848.

Not a traditional entheogen, it does however contain pharmacologically active alkaloids. Used by the Seri Indians of the Sonora medicinally to combat rheumatism. Also held in high esteem by the Papago Indians. The fruit of this cactus is valued as a food and in wine-making.

Contains: 3-methoxytyramine 3,4-dimethoxyphenethylamine 3,4 dimethoxy-5-hydroxyphenethylamine 3,5 dimethoxy-4-hydroxyphenethylamine Arizonine Dopamine(.26%), Heliamine Heliamine, dehydro Mescaline Tyramine Carnegine Gigantine (5-hydroxycarnegine) Salsolidine (Norcarnegine) Salsolidine, dehydro, dehydroheliamine, dehydrosalsolidine

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