14. Lechuguilla (_Agave lechuguilla_) (pronounced lay-choo-GHEE-yuh) is
a small species of agave whose leaf crown somewhat resembles a bunch of
green bananas, and does not belong to the cactus family. The plant is so
well protected by its spine-tipped leaves that even hungry goats refrain
from eating it. The fibers within the fleshy leaves are used extensively
in northern Mexico for making brushes, matting, coarse twine and rope.
The short stem is used as a substitute for soap.
15. Claretcup Echinocereus (_Echinocereus triglochidiatus_). This is one
of the commonest and most spectacular of our hedgehog cactuses.
Occasionally, plants will have as many as 50 salmon-colored blossoms
open at the same time.
[Illustration: _Desert vegetation and Chisos Mountains as seen from
the east._]
16. Engelmann Pricklypear (_Opuntia engelmanni_) is one of the desert’s
most useful plants. Its fruits may be eaten raw and delicious jams and
jellies may be made from them. When young and tender, the young joints
are called “nopalitas” (no-pahl-EE-tahs), and are cooked and eaten.
Ranchmen burn off the spines to supply hungry cattle with food when the
range is poor. In the lower elevations of the park a lovely
purple-colored species is found, known as purple-tinge cactus.
17. Strawberry Cactus (_Echinocereus stramineus_) has one of the
desert’s tastiest fruits. When ripe, the fruit resembles a strawberry in
texture and is delicious served with cream. The blossom is a deep red
and is one of the park’s gems of floral beauty. Large numbers of these
dome-shaped plant mounds may be observed along the highways throughout
the park.
18. Brownpitaya (_Echinocereus chloranthus_) is one of the so-called
rainbow cactus group. Notice the banded color separation of the short
needles. The small brown flowers grow around the plant in large numbers
during the bloom period. Another variety, which grows at low elevations
in the park, has yellow-orange blossoms reaching a diameter of 4 inches.
19. Mountain-Mahogany (_Cercocarpus eximius_). The wood is extremely
hard, so brittle that it may be broken very easily. Deer browse on the
leaves, and, outside the park, cattle and sheep feed upon it.
20. Lichen. Raise your eyes to the exposed barren escarpments of Casa
Grande and other rock outcroppings. Here you observe greens, blacks, and
other colors. Much of this color may be attributed to the lichens
(LYK-ehnz) encrusting the bare rock surfaces.
The small colorful organisms are the first visible signs of life to gain
a foothold on rocks. Without true roots, this little “mutual” obtains
moisture from the atmosphere. A lichen is actually a fungus and an alga
living together in mutual dependence (one provides board and the other
room for both). As a product of their life processes, carbonic acid is
formed. This slowly disintegrates the rock, helping to form soil, thus
aiding in the production of suitable living conditions for higher types
of plants.
21. Ash (_Fraxinus_ sp.). Ash has long been identified as a very useful
wood; even the early Indians utilized it for paddles, bows, arrows, etc.
The winged seed resembles a small canoe paddle.
22. One-Seed Juniper (_Juniperus monosperma_). There are four junipers
found in the park. (You have already seen two of the others along this
trail.) This one is so named because it has but one seed in each berry.
Junipers (often miscalled cedars) are distinguished from other
cone-bearers by the seeds being enclosed in a berry instead of a cone.
The wood is resistant to decay and used much for posts. Of course, in a
National Park, trees are preserved for their scenic and watershed
protection value and are not harvested for commercial purposes.