Mentougou
Mentougou District is a district in western Beijing.
It is a treasure trove of natural resources, including coal, limestone, and granite.
Mentougou also supplies Beijing with agricultural produce such as roses, wild jujubes, mushrooms, and Beijing white pears.
Mining is one of the key industrial activities.
Saguaro cacti
Saguaro cacti
The saguaro is a tree-like cactus species in the monotypic genus Carnegiea that can grow to be over 12 meters (40 feet) tall.
It is native to the Sonoran Desert in Arizona, the Mexican state of Sonora, and the Whipple Mountains and Imperial County areas of California.
The saguaro blossom is the state wildflower of Arizona.
Its scientific name is given in honor of Andrew Carnegie.
In 1994, Saguaro National Park, near Tucson, Arizona, was designated to help protect this species and its habitat.
A house sparrow nesting on a saguaro cactus.
Saguaros have a relatively long lifespan, often exceeding 150 years.
They may grow their first side arm around 75–100 years of age, but some never grow any arms.
Arms are developed to increase the plant's reproductive capacity, as more apices lead to more flowers and fruit.
A saguaro can absorb and store considerable amounts of rainwater, visibly expanding in the process, while slowly using the stored water as needed.
This characteristic enables the saguaro to survive during periods of drought.
It is a keystone species, and provides food and habitat to a large number of species.
Saguaros have been a source of food and shelter for humans for thousands of years.
Their sweet red fleshed fruits are turned into syrup by native peoples, such as the Tohono Oʼodham and Pima.
COMMENTS