66 THE FANTASTIC CLAN 



rowed with a dozen or so ridges, on the sides of which appear 

 interlocking scallops, of a yellow or medium deep greenish 

 cast. It has golden or light yellow spines like the pale yel- 

 low or cream-colored hair of the albino, hence the common 

 name Is quite apropos. It Is to the circle of eight to thirteen 

 radial spines with their lovely golden hue that the specific 

 title chrysocentrus refers. The Golden Splned Strawberry 

 Cactus with its pink and lavender-pink flowers Is a rare and 

 beautiful sight on the desert here before us, set in the dull 

 tan or brown background of sand and rocks, and with 

 scarcely a green leaf or other color now In sight. The inch- 

 long fruit is densely spiny, covered with long, slender golden 

 thorns, edible and sweet; it ripens in August, a month or so 

 later than the fruit of the Echinocereus Engelmannii, its 

 nearest relative. 



Indian Strawberry Cactus (Echinocereus 



Engelmannii) 



Western Arizona, Northern Mexico, Southern Utah, 

 Southern Nevada, and Southern California 



Here is the Echinocereus Engelmannii, or Engelmann's 

 Hedgehog Cactus. This fine Strawberry Cactus may be 

 found clinging to the foothills and low mountains in arid, 

 sandy or gravelly desert land, growing In clumps of a few 

 to twenty or more stems, six Inches to a foot or more high 

 and two or three inches through, rather cylindrical. This 

 fine species Is very appropriately named in honor of Dr. 

 George Engelmann of St. Louis, one of the greatest author- 

 ities on cacti. Deep purple-pink flowers appear in early 

 spring, seeming at times to be clustered because of the masses 

 of brilliantly tinged blossoms three to four inches long; 

 though In reality they grow singly on the stems, and bloom 

 for several days, opening in the forenoon and closing toward 



