368 APPENDIX 



with many slender, almost leafless stems and numerous small, 

 yellow, fragrant flowers. Blooms throughout summer. 

 Beloperone californica. Span., Chuparosa. A good-sized bush, al- 

 most leafless, with purplish green, downy stems and handsome, 

 dark red, tubular flowers. One of the earliest blooming desert 

 plants, continuing all spring. 



Cacti — 



Cereus engelmanni. Hedgehog cactus. A cluster of spiny short 

 stems about the size and shape of cucumbers. Flowers very 

 handsome, large, cup-shaped, bright rose-purple with plumy 

 green stigma. Blooms in mid-spring. 



Cereus giganteus. Span., Saguaro, Pitahaya. The giant cactus, 

 common on the Arizona desert hills and found sparingly in 

 California adjacent to the Colorado River. It is usually a 

 tall, fluted column up to 60 feet high, with similar vertical 

 ofi^sets for branches. Flowers large, white: fruit crimson, edi- 

 ble. Blooms in mid-spring. 



Echinocactus cylindraceus. Barrel cactus, Nigger-head: Span., 

 Biznaga (or Viznaga). A large, cylindrical, ribbed cactus up 

 to 6 feet high (globular when young) covered with long curv- 

 ing spines. Flowers greenish yellow, cup-shaped, in a circle on 

 the top. Blooms in mid-spring. 



Mamillaria tetrancistrus. Pincushion, Strawberry, or Fish- 

 hook cactus: Span., Chilito. A small, round cactus, usually I 

 or 2 inches in height and diameter, with a fuzz of fine white 

 spines and a longer sharply hooked black one in the centre of 

 each tuft. Flowers fleshy, lily-like, of rich claret color: fruit 

 scarlet, finger-shaped, edible. Blooms in late spring. 



Mamillaria sp. Like a larger growth of the foregoing, but some- 

 what irregular in shape and with waxy-white flowers. 

 Blooms in late spring. 



Opuntia basilaris. A flat-lobed, grayish cactus, velvety-look- 

 ing, without noticeable spines but set with myriads of minute 

 prickles. Flowers very handsome, large, cup-shaped, cerise, 

 set in a row on edge of lobe. Blooms in mid-spring. 



Opuntia bigelovii. Span., Cholla. A plant up to 6 feet tall, 

 branching in stumpy arms, the whole plant densely clad with 

 greenish white spines. The older parts turn almost black. 

 The joints detach very easily and litter the ground. Flowers 

 greenish white. Blooms in mid- and late spring. 



Opuntia chlorotica. Prickly pear, Indian fig: Span., Nopal. 



