I’ll put a tiny window in my thoughts so you can see how it functions. at least the way it is now functioning. In the future, it might not function exactly the same. I’ll make you one promise: I haven’t planned the specifics of what I’m about to write, other from choosing the general concept. Instead, I will keep track of my thoughts as they come to me, if any, to see if anything noteworthy, intriguing, or helpful happens. You’ll also get to see that if it doesn’t. Ready?
Here is the setting. This month, it began sooner. I visited the Desert Botanical Garden during a free day while I was in Phoenix for school visits. great location I was looking at a display about saguaro cactus, the emblematic plant of the Sonoran Desert. Many people may immediately associate the word with an image of this charismatic cactus with upcurving arms “saguaros only flourish in this particular, relatively tiny desert in southern Arizona, northwest Mexico, and a little portion of southeast California. I was aware that these plants come from a highly hot climate, but I was still curious to learn more.
I was overwhelmed by numbers when I read the interpreting signs. That is, statistical data regarding saguaros. My neck hair sprung up like cactus needles since I’m a numbers guy and a math author. A couple of such numbers are as follows:
Saguraros develop extremely slowly; they gain a foot in the first 15 years and around half an inch in the first year. After then, they begin to cruise; after 40 or 50 years, they might grow to a height of ten feet, but arm buds don’t start to appear on them until they are between 50 and 100 years old. Some people live to be 300 years old. They can grow up to 40 to 60 feet tall. A replacement in the wild will take roughly 30 years to reach the size of the poached plant when a cactus poacher (oh yeah, they do exist) digs up a six-foot saguaro to plant in front of his house (which will probably die).
One mature saguaro may hold enough water in its spongy pulp to last several months at 1,500 gallons, or 6 tons. It can endure losing two-thirds of its water reserves.
So, here is what transpired. I believed to myself, “Hey, how about a book that lists the numbers of saguaros? Saguaros by the Numbers, Saguaros by the Numbers, or something similar. Possibly not in that manner. Let’s not focus too much on the title, though. I was aware that, if I succeeded, there would be a plethora of sequels that might include Oceans, Earth, The Solar System, Great White Sharks, and Elephants by the Numbers.
So what’s the deal? The simple aspect of coming up with a book (or series) idea. The challenge is in figuring out how to put the concept into practice. It resembles the business plan for a novel in certain ways. Without it, all you have is conversation starters at cocktail parties. You can conduct business with it. Maybe. What should I do with this nascent notion of saguaros and numerals, then? We’ll see.
First impression: similar to Harper’s Index You may be familiar with statistics like “Number of incidents globally last Christmas (2005) of “Santanarchy,” which involves roving hordes of rowdy Santas: 29,” or “Rank of Portland, Oregon, among all cities in per capita consumption of Grape-Nuts.”
Therefore, we may have instead “A saguaro cactus produces 40,000,000 seeds over its lifetime.
OK. Possible. However, it is a little bit dry and resembles Harper’s Index a little too much. a copycat piece. Forbidden by God. And it can grow boring. However, it might work if there was more text to clarify and elaborate on the saguaro’s tale.
So, perhaps this will do: The book will be constructed around a number line. The entire set of pages could fit one enormous number line. Children learn about number ideas through number lines, and I could indicate the numbers that are crucial for comprehending saguaros along the number line. If all goes according to plan, the saguaro will grow to a height of one foot in 10 years, according to an explanation that you can follow from the number 10. (I guess I could just as well place the marker at 1 and state that a saguaro’s height after ten years is one foot.) The amount of water that a plant can store is 1,500 gallons. (Alternatively, 6 for 6 tons.) Additionally, 40,000,000 seeds are produced in a lifetime. Of course, there would be many of chances to add further details to round out the picture. (I won’t get into whether we should use metric units, American units, or both at this time. We’ll put that off till later. Just thinking out loud here.)
Okay, but I can think of a couple issues with my number line concept. How do I, for instance, build up a number line on a scale with points from 1 to 6, 1,500 to 40,000,000, and many points in between? I suppose there are options. I might omit some details (showing jagged lines to indicate discontinuities). Yes, that is conceivable. Or how about a variety of number lines with various scales. one for expansion. That’d function. an additional for the creation of items like seeds. 40 million. What else, though, might fit on that number line? nothing else, perhaps. Is it appropriate to draw a number line with just one point? possibly not
But hold on, what if I made a ton of number lines, on various scales, and I displayed not only the figures pertinent to saguaro trees (for instance, 1,500 gallons of water stored), but also other values that could put it into perspective, like how much water is present in a sizable watermelon, a human body, or an Olympic-sized swimming pool.
That might succeed. But let’s give it some thought. Is it really necessary to recount the tale of a saguaro cactus in a book of number lines? Maybe. possibly not
What about a book of saguaro-related arithmetic challenges? ” In the Sonoran Desert, it has been raining for 30 hours. The roots of a 40-foot saguaro extend 40 feet in all directions, and 100 gallons of water fall per hour in the space above the roots. Half of that water can be absorbed by the saguaro. What volume of water can this enormous cactus absorb? (Does the Teachers Edition qualify? It takes 1,500 gallons to answer.) Then a story might describe how great these plants are, how they actually do this, etc. No, that would be too textbook-like.
Let’s take an example of a book with oddly numbered chapters. We can number the chapters according to the number being addressed rather than using Chapters 1, 2, 3, etc. So, Chapter 1, where we introduce the number 1, might serve as the starting point. All the characteristics of saguaros that are singular. Or just one thing: it increases by half an inch in a year. We might then move on to chapter 10, though. The saguaro grows to a height of one foot in that number of years. In Chapter 1,500, I would also discuss water absorption. There is a chapter 40,000,000 for seeds. Hey, it grows half an inch in the first year, so I could start with Chapter 1.
Hmmm. Very good. Original (I think). I might be able to pull it off. possibly not I’m currently only able to think of a lot of maybes and maybe nots.
And perhaps I’ll take a nap on it because my bird clock’s great horned owl just hooted (as the small hand hit the number 12). There are still a few maybes for tomorrow. Then I might start writing to decide which of these possibilities I enjoy the most. Or perhaps I’ll come up with a better idea. Feel free to vote on your favorite or make your own maybe in the interim.
Can you keep water in a saguaro cactus?
Saguaro from the NPS Natural History Handbook. Many desert plants store water in specialized tissues during the wet season in order to use it during droughts. A few of these so-called “succulents,” primarily yuccas, esehevarias, and agaves, have developed water-storage tissues in their leaves.
A saguaro’s method of water storage
Cactus Saguaro (Carnegiea gigantea)
The saguaro cactus, which “the American West, pronounced sah-wah-roh. We constantly encounter images of these cacti as a representation of the American Desert. Without looking closely at one of these well-known desert plants, a vacation to the Sonoran Desert is not complete. Almost everyone who has seen one has been captivated by these enormous green columnar cactuses. Even more significant to the native Tohono O’Odham are the saguaro cacti. The Tohono O’Odham see the huge cacti as revered tribe members rather than as plants. They see them as a distinct kind of humanity.
Although the saguaro cactus has come to represent the American West, it can only be found in the Sonoran desert. The saguaro cactus’s geographic range is constrained to southern Arizona since it is a desert indicator species. From sea level to an elevation of around 4000 feet, saguaro cacti can thrive. The saguaro cactus will limit its growth to the warmer, south-facing slopes the further north and higher in elevation you go. Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument is home to a large number of saguaro cacti. Impressive “The Ajo Mountain Drive passes through saguaro woods.
The saguaro cactus, which can grow up to 40 feet tall, is the biggest cactus in the country. Over 78 feet high, the tallest saguaro cactus ever measured stood. All of the saguaro cactus’ growth takes place at the tip, or top, of the cactus, which grows like a column at a very slow rate. A saguaro cactus may take ten years to grow just an inch tall. A saguaro cactus can grow to a height of 6 and a half feet and begin to bear flowers at the age of 70. A saguaro cactus can grow to a height of 15 to 16 feet and begin to sprout its first arm by the time it is 95 to 100 years old. The saguaro cactus reaches its maximum height of up to 45 feet tall when it is 200 years old. While some saguaros develop dozens of arms, other cacti never produce even one. One of the unsolved mysteries of the desert is why this occurs.
The saguaro cactus is an expert at surviving in the desert. This plant was created from the ground up to survive in the sometimes hostile Sonoran Desert. The saguaro cactus’ epidermis is covered in a thick layer of waxy material that prevents water loss through transpiration and waterproofs the plant. To protect the water that is kept inside, the cactus has bristles that are both flexible and have sharp spines.
A saguaro cactus has an equally remarkable root system. The cactus will grow a sizable, solitary taproot that will extend straight down into the ground for around five feet. The cactus can get water that is kept underground thanks to this taproot. The saguaro cactus’ primary roots differ greatly from other cacti. A huge network of roots that resemble a maze is sent out by the cactus quite near to the surface. These roots are typically 3 inches or less below the surface, allowing the cactus to easily catch any rain that may fall.
Instantaneously, very little water is used. Instead, the majority of the water collected is eventually stored within the cactus for use during dry spells. A tissue that resembles a sponge fills the interior of the cactus and serves as a reservoir for the water. The cactus’ skin starts to grow as more water is stored, providing additional space for storage. When a result, as more and more water is stored, the saguaro cactus can get rather hefty. A Saguaro cactus foot can weigh up to 90 pounds when fully grown, and a whole Saguaro can weigh over a ton.
The saguaro cactus blooms from late spring to early summer. The flowering typically takes place between April and June. The milky-white blossoms give forth a sweet nectar that draws a variety of bat species. These bats consume flower nectar while also helping to pollinate the saguaro cactus. The bats will begin to devour the cactus fruit when it begins to produce fruit, which will help disperse saguaro seeds over the desert.
Water storing capabilities
One of the most intriguing saguaro cactus facts is this: It can hold a lot of water in storage. The desert may absorb up to 200 gallons of water during rainstorms.
It is possible to extract around two tons of fluids by pressing on a mature cactus.
Deep Tap Root
The majority of saguaros have roots that extend as far from the plant as it is tall and are only 4-6 inches deep. The taproot root, on the other hand, penetrates the earth a long way.
Flowers
One of the strongest scents is given out by the saguaro flower; it smells sweet and musky. The flower only blooms at night and remains dormant during the day.
When the saguaro cactus is at least 35 years old, flowers start to appear on it. The white flowers emerge in the late spring, and red edible fruits follow in the summer.
How much water can a cactus in the desert store?
Despite being notorious for being dry and dusty, desert regions occasionally get rain. In order to assist them absorb as much water as possible, cactus plants grow roots that are a few inches below the surface of the soil. Their shallow and dispersed roots allow plants to absorb water from even light showers.
Additionally, these plants produce some auxiliary roots that take up extra water on days when it rains. When it rains, these roots can emerge from the cacti in just two hours. As soon as they sprout, they start to work. The temporary roots separate from the main roots when it stops raining in order to minimize water loss.
The main plant receives the water that can be absorbed by all of the roots and stores it there. During the wet seasons, some giant cacti plants, like the saguaro cactus, may store up to 4200 pounds of water. Until it rains again in a few seasons, they can get by on this water.
Other cacti species develop taproots, which are extremely lengthy roots. The plant can withstand the protracted drought by drawing moisture from the soil through its deep subterranean roots. Additionally, the taproot makes sure the plant has a solid foundation so it won’t be swept away by rainstorms or soil erosion. Saguaro and Mexican cereus are two cacti that can grow taproots.
Some cacti have succulent roots that store food and water in addition to the roots that aid the cactus in absorbing water. The Cereus greggii, often known as the Arizona queen of the night, is an illustration of one such cactus. To function as storage, these cacti plants have larger roots. These plants have roots that can extend up to 27 kilometers. The xylem tissue refers to the expanded areas of these roots.
Other cacti plants isolate themselves from the ground to reduce water loss. This is due to the fact that the plant may occasionally have more moisture than the soil, causing it to run the risk of losing water to the ground.
Cacti lack aerial or rambunctious roots because these root types frequently promote water loss.