MadSci Network: Botany
Query:

Re: How long to Cactus usually live?

Date: Fri Apr 14 21:36:38 2000
Posted By: David Hershey, Faculty, Botany, NA
Area of science: Botany
ID: 955715432.Bt
Message:

Cactus are usually considered rather long-lived perennials. I doubt if anyone 
has calculated an average age for the couple thousand cactus species. Average 
age would be difficult to measure because it would likely be a lifetime project 
for a person, possibly even beyond a human lifetime. 

The saguaro (Carnegiea  gigantea) often lives over 150 years (Keasey, 1981). One 
44-foot tall saguaro was estimated to be over 300 years old (Hazen-Hammond, 
1996). Its average age has probably decreased due to human destruction of its 
habitat and vandalism.

There are lots of internet sites and books on cactus to examine. You might also 
contact cactus organizations.

References

Hazen-Hammond, S. 1996. A giant shrugs off vandalism, poaching, tales of its 
demise. Smithsonian 26(10):76-83 (Jan.)

Keasey, M.S. 1981. The Saguaro Book. Dubuque, IA: Kendall/Hunt.


Cactus & Succulent Society of America



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