We don't want to be too revealing with this Mystery Photo, for that just might give it away. But we will tell you it's bigger than a breadbox. More tomorrow for those who have no idea what this might be.
National Park Mystery Photo 24: Kinda Spindly, Ain't It?
By Kurt Repanshek - June 23rd, 2010
What the heck is it, and where can you see it?
Add comment
Help support us– the one source for journalism dedicated to our National Parks.
National Parks Traveler is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit.
INN Member
The easiest way to explore RV-friendly National Park campgrounds.
Here’s the definitive guide to National Park System campgrounds where RVers can park their rigs.
Our app is packed with RVing- specific details on more than 250 campgrounds in more than 70 national parks.
You’ll also find stories about RVing in the parks, tips helpful if you’ve just recently become an RVer, and useful planning suggestions.
Comments
Doh! I'm going to have to start getting to work earlier on Wednesdays. [In my defense, I got a flat tire on my bike riding in this morning.]
Fun fact about dead Carnegiea gigantea: a couple of weeks after it died, the pH of the corpse was ~8.5 or greater. Cacti use Crassulacean acid to store CO2 that they take up at night (cooler so less water loss) for use in photosynthesis during the day, so they have a huge acid buffering capacity (they're making and then removing lots of acid every 24 hours). When they die the crassulacean acid breaks down rather quickly, but the alkali buffering is more stable. This results in a weird set of fungi on the dead cactus, which are eaten by fruit flies & beetles.
You can see saguaro in Saguro NM and Organ Pipe NM, but also Casa Grande Ruins NM and Tonto NM.