PARADE OF THE DESERT FLOWERS 71 



locations, we find the beauteous Rainbow, her bright rose- 

 purple flowers with their yellowish eyes, large and showy 

 and funnel-shaped. Solitary they are, and grow only a few 

 on a plant; and the rose-pink and purple petals and stamens, 

 with their orange-red anthers forming a circle about the 

 rose-purple style and olive-green stigmas, are a sight truly 

 admired by every one fortunate enough to see it in full 

 bloom. The Mexicans have nicknamed her Cabecita del 

 Fiejo because she clings to the foothills and rocky moun- 

 tain slopes. Four to fifteen inches tall, at a little distance 

 she appears banded with white or cream-colored, yellow, 

 rose-purple, pink, or maroon-purple bands, while the two 

 dozen or so ridges appearing vertically around the stems 

 about a half-inch apart are green and yellow-green in hue. 

 The beautifully mottled thorns, a half-inch or so long, are 

 pressed closely against the plant, arranged mostly in two 

 comb-like groups and forming a continuous dense spiny layer 

 over the entire growth. The last spines of each season are 

 rose-purple or maroon, the earlier ones pink, yellowish, or 

 whitish; and thus are formed the zones of color extending 

 around the plant, the brighter or deeper hues of the spines 

 appearing during periods of slow growth, the yellow or 

 whitish coloring during the time of faster growth In the 

 spring. The inner part of the stems of rigidissimus, along 

 with the sweet and pulpy ripe fruit, Is relished and eaten by 

 Indians and Mexicans, who consider It a rare delicacy. 



Short Spined Strawberry Cactus (Echinocereus 



Bonkerce) 

 Southeastern Arizona 



We are nearing the beautiful Pinal Mountains in south- 

 eastern Arizona, nearing also the end of our journey over 

 the broad expanse of the Arizona-California desert. After 



