82 THE FANTASTIC CLAN 



very sharp and needlelike. Both radials and the longer 

 centrals are pinkish to brownish gray and have bulbous bases 

 which spread at the roots. In most of the other Hedgehog 

 species the colorings of the thorns vary somewhat. The 

 bright scarlet blossoms are about three inches long and re- 

 main open for several days and nights. The petals are 

 broad and spatulate and a bit thick, not opening wide. The 

 filaments are dull scarlet, the anthers purple, and the stigma 

 lobes bright green. The scarlet hue in the color scheme 

 gives the plant a striking appearance on the desert, beauti- 

 ful to see. The fruit is elliptical and very spiny, a green- 

 ish purple, and has a pleasant tart, gooseberrylike taste. 

 The stems grow in clumps of as many as forty, and range 

 from the low foothills and dry hajadas of southwestern 

 Texas to southern New Mexico and eastern Arizona. 



How to grow 



These plants grow well out of doors and are not injured 

 by zero temperatures. They will grow In cool, sunny green- 

 houses. Transplant early In spring without Injuring roots 

 or stems, in gravelly clay or rocky soils; give enough water 

 to keep the soil moist but not wet. Plants may be grown 

 from seed In the usual way. In pots or flats in sandy or loamy 

 soil in part shade, with enough water to keep the soil moist. 



Desert or Indian Strawberry Cactus; Fendler's 

 Hedgehog Cactus (Echinocereus Fendleri) 



(Named in honor of August Fendler, who collected exten- 

 sively in Ni^w Mexico and Arizona in the early days) 



How to identify and how it grows 



The Indian Strawberry Cactus, also, is built up of cylin- 

 drical tapered stems, in groups of ten or twelve, of uneven 

 heights up to a foot, with a dozen or so wavy ribs and clus- 

 tered radially formed spines, a half-Inch or so In length, wide- 



