Popular Studies of California Wild Flowers 67 



K act os, meaning a prickly plant. The word Echino is sometimes 

 combined with Cereus to designate a species closely related to the 

 Cereus type of cacti. There are about six species of Cereus to be 

 found in the same range as the others. The name is Latin for 

 "Candlestick" from the resemblance of one of the members to the 

 columnar form of a wax candle. Some of the Cereus forms were 

 highly prized for their fruit, and all bear handsome flowers, which 

 might be expected, as they are closely related to the widely known 

 and esteemed Night Blooming Cereus. The small Bird's-nest Cacti 

 (Mamillaria) are limited to about four species of small oval or 

 cylindrical, spine-bearing plants, which are recognized by their 

 appearance, which gives them their scientific name and also a com- 

 mon one. Mamillaria is well translated by the English "Nipple 

 Cactus," because of the protruding little nipples which cluster on 

 the plant. 



The many kinds of cacti are interesting aside from their beau- 

 tiful flowers and economic uses, because of the abundance of bird 

 life which they sustain. They are the refuge of many birds and 

 small animals from that evil spirit, the coyote, and other foes. They 

 furnish food and are the water reservoirs of the desert, so we may 

 excuse these good plants for their forbidding appearance and learn 

 to know them as they truly are, one of Nature's most instructive 

 and useful flowering plants. 



A Cactus is figured as a part of the Mexican coat-of-arms and 

 has an important place in the legend of the founding' of the capital, 

 Mexico City, by the ancient Aztecs, who were told by their sooth- 

 sayer to seek for a place where an eagle, a snake and a cactus were 

 to be found, and there they established themselves. 



