saguaro awry

Saguaro cacti are often illustrated with two 

arms, in a "stick 'em up" pose; but 

actually they are rarely symmetrical. in fact, 

sometimes saguaros grow in odd, fanned out

 shapes like this one, also called a crested

saguaro. it isn't known whether this results

from a genetic mutation or whether the crest

 is the result of environmental damage like 

lightning or a freeze; but crested saguaros 

are rare.