100 THE FANTASTIC CLAN 



twelve feet across and three to five feet tall, with many 

 divergent and ascending branches from the base, these often 

 rooting and forming an Impenetrable growth. Its large 

 bluish green joints contrast vividly In the spring with the 

 huge golden or lemon-yellow flowers which appear in great 

 numbers in April and May; while again In July there is an- 

 other marked contrast to the deep purple or maroon-purple 

 fruit, which is pear-shaped and often three inches long. 

 As many as sixteen fruit are borne on a single joint or pad 

 of the Prickly Pear. These the Mexicans and Indians eat 

 when ripe, and the natives make a most palatable syrup 

 from the jams or conserves. 



Long Spined Prickly Pear (Opuntia macrocentra) 



Northern Mexico^ Central Arizona, and Western Texas 



The Opuntia macrocentra grows in sandy soil or clay 

 loam at levels of three to five thousand feet. The plants 

 are no more than three feet tall and are called macrocentra 

 In allusion to the long spines, over three inches in length. 

 The large showy blossoms are about three Inches long with 

 light yellow petals and bright red or orange-red centers. 

 This flower also opens and closes in the daytime and lasts for 

 one day only. The olive-green joints of the plants, which are 

 suffused with purple or sometimes purple throughout, 

 the dark purple-brown spines, and the yellow bloom create 

 an uncommon sight here on the open desert out over the 

 mesas and bajadas In Northern Mexico. 



Beaver Tail (Opuntia basilaris) 



Southeastern California, Western Arizona, Northern 

 Sonora, Southern Nevada, and Southern Utah 



In southeastern California we run across that odd and 

 interesting little Prickly Pear with Its many spicules appear- 



