The Magnificent Cardon

Evening Light on the Giganta Mountains - Bahia Marquer

We departed Bahia Salinas in the afternoon on March 28^th and motored to the southwest side of Isla Carmen where we anchored for two nights in scenic Bahia Marquer. The bay offers a stunning view of the Giganta Mountain Range and at night you can see the lights of Loreto twinkle in the distance. Bahia Marquer is also a good spot to go ashore for an up-close look at the magnificent cardon cacti.

Another Lovely Moonlit Night

Flowers and Ribs of the Cardon

The giant cardon cactus dominates many of the deserts of Baja California and is closely related to the saguaro of Arizona and Sonora. The cardon however is not frost-tolerant so these two giant cacti occupy distinct geographical regions. The cardon is the largest of all cacti and specimens have reached a height of 70 feet, weighing up to 25 tons with a life span of 300 years! The cardon forms multiple branches quite close to the base resulting in a number of long, straight vertical arms.

Cardon Cacti along the Shoreline

We spotted a number of cardon cacti on shore and headed out with the dinghy to get a good look. We gingerly walked through the grove of cactus, taking care not to get poked by the sharp protruding thistles.

Grove of Cardon Cacti

“Cardo” means “thistle” in Spanish. It is said that when Hernando Cortes attempted to establish a settlement in Baja in 1535, the numerous spiny cacti earned Baja the name “Isla de Cardon,” at that time they believed the peninsula was an island. The extensive, shallow root system of the cardon can quickly capture rain from the brief, torrential downpours in Baja, storing over a ton of water in the fleshy, pulp-like tissues of its trunk. To support all that weight, the cactus has an interior framework of hardwood vertical ribs that are lightweight but extremely strong. These vertical ribs or rods allow the cactus to expand and contract like an accordion, storing water needed for survival. The Native inhabitants of Baja used the flesh of the cactus for its healing properties and used the long straight ribs of the cactus for spears, fishing poles, fences, and beams for house walls. They also used the fruit and seeds of the cardon for making flour and juice. Flowers of the cardon are located on the upper portion of the plant and are white or light in color, blooming March through June. The deep-throated, bell-shaped flowers open in the afternoon and stay open all night, then close about mid-morning the next day. This occurrence is a matter of importance since the cardon depends on nightly visits from nectar feeding bats for pollination. It’s such a treat to see these large cacti; unfortunately many have been destroyed over the years by land cultivation and development. In 1893-1913, the French historian and naturalist Leon Diguet made six scientific expeditions to Mexico and was one of the first scientists to use photography to illustrate his findings. One of his rare photos shows an enormous cardon cactus.