Massive, cylindrical, and covered with clusters of stout spines, the
central one hook-shaped, these desert giants are often mistaken for
young saguaros. There are several species, all locally called
_bisnagas_, with some quite small and others attaining a height of 5 or
6 feet. The majority produce clusters of orange to red flowers on their
crowns in late summer, but the yellow-flowered California barrel cactus
blossoms in the spring. Their tendency to lean toward the light causes
many of these heavy-bodied plants to tip in a southwesterly direction,
giving them the name “compass cactus.” This group is naively believed by
some people to contain water. Actually the slimy, alkaline sap obtained
by mashing the pulpy flesh might conceivably save someone lost in the
desert from dying of thirst. The pale yellow fruits are not spiney, and
are eaten by birds, rodents, deer, and other desert animals.
_Ferocactus wislizenii_ Cactus Family
[Illustration: BARREL CACTUS]