[Illustration: Ferocactus wislizeni]
Common names: BARREL CACTUS, COMPASS CACTUS, DEVILSHEAD CACTUS,
(_BISNAGA_), (_BISNAGRE_)
Arizona desert: (_Ferocactus wislizeni_). Orange-yellow.
July-September.
California desert: (_Ferocactus acanthodes_). Yellow. March-May.
Texas desert: (_Echinocactus horizonthalonius_). Rose-pink. May-June.
Cactus family. Size: 2 to 8 feet high.
Well known among the desert figures are the heavy-bodied Barrel Cacti
which are sometimes pointed out as sources of water for travelers
suffering from thirst. Under extreme conditions, it is possible to hack
off the tops of these tough, spine-protected plants and obtain, by
squeezing the macerated tissues, enough juice to sustain life.
Growing faster on the shaded side, the taller-growing plants tend to
lean toward the south, hence the name “Compass” cactus. Flowers range in
color from yellow to orange and rose-pink, depending on the species, and
the pale yellow, egg-shaped fruits which ripen early in the winter, are
a favorite food of deer and rodents. Flowers, and the resulting fruits,
form a ring around the crown of the plant.
The flesh of the Barrel cactus, cooked in sugar, forms the base of
cactus candy.