Gundry: saguaro cacti do not grow in Texas

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I enjoy your publication and read it cover to cover most weeks. But I must point out a glaring error in your recent edition of March 22. The illustrations accompanying the article about the Texas cancer researchers show saguaro cacti. Saguaro cacti only grow in the Sonoran desert of southern Arizona and western Sonora, Mexico, with a few stray saguaros in California. The saguaro cactus does not grow in Texas. It is a common misconception that the saguaro grows throughout the west. The cactus is so unique to Arizona that the saguaro cactus blossom has been named the state flower of Arizona. I thought you should be made aware of this inaccuracy.


Kathleen Gundry

Associate professor, Radiology and Imaging Sciences Emory University School of Medicine

Director, Breast Imaging Grady Memorial Hospital

The illustrator responds:

correction texas web (1)

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