In cactus families, giants who cannot fit in an apartment are not uncommon. Such, for example, is a cactus called Cornegia gigantea, which grows in Mexico.
Cereus cacti
The entire genus Cereus, whose representatives grow mainly in South America and India, are represented by tree-like plants that can grow up to 20 meters. Usually the stems are columnar and divided into high ribs, few in number, with sparse spines, which, however, reach considerable length. The flowers of these cacti are predominantly white, very large. Almost all representatives of the genus have a high growth rate and endurance, therefore, in private collections, this type of cactus is used as a stock for other varieties.
Few decide to grow a cereus by itself - with its growth rate, it very quickly rests against the ceiling of both the greenhouse and the apartment. This cactus requires abundant watering, including in winter, otherwise it shrinks strongly and may die in some places. But at the same time, such shock therapy, as has been noted more than once, promotes more abundant flowering.
Saguaro, or giant cornegia
This cactus grows mainly in the United States, namely in Arizona and California, and in northern Mexico. The growth of cornegia can reach 15 m, and the age is 150 years. An adult plant weighs several tons.
Cornegia grows slowly for the first 30 years of its life, growing barely a couple of meters in height. But then, if by this moment the cactus does not suffer in any way, it begins to increase in growth by a centimeter weekly and by the age of 70 it resembles a tall tree with very thick and thorny branches. At the same age, the saguaro begins to branch, sometimes very strongly, and their shape is very unusual, resembling either a fork or a hand with spread fingers, a dancing person, tentacles, a fan.
Saguaro flowers are huge, and birds often make nests in them. From the heat of the day, the cactus closes them and opens them only at night, as almost all plants do in the desert. The fruits of this cactus can be eaten, and moonshine is made from sourdough on juice, and vegetable oil is made from seeds. The cactus has a strength comparable to that of a tree, when soft tissues die off due to its reinforcing structure. Local Indians used it for construction purposes.
This type of cactus is under protection in the United States, and whoever damages the saguaro in one way or another faces a long prison sentence. On the black market, it is quite expensive, and to combat poachers in the habitats of the cornegia, 24-hour video surveillance is installed, in addition, sensors are attached to the cacti, which help to find out in which direction the cactus was exported.
The tallest saguaro reached 24 m in height, but in 1978 it was hit by a storm. Therefore, the tallest cactus to date grows in Arizona, its girth exceeds 3 m, and its height is 15 m.
