A DESERT GRAVEYARD 163 



and central thorns one to two Inches long, the lowest one 

 sharply hooked. The plants grow nine feet tall at times, 

 occasionally only a foot or so in height, generally with single 

 stems seven to twelve inches In diameter according to age; 

 the flowers are bell-shaped, blossoms of rare beauty giving 

 a lovely golden cast to the landscape in April and May; the 

 fruit Is borne In a circle of greenish yellow suffused with 

 purple, around the tops of the stems, and matures in July. 



Many Hooked Visxagita (Echinocactus 



polyancistrus) 



Southeastern California, Western Arizona, and 

 Southern Nevada 



The meaning of polyancistrus Is "many fishhooks"; but 

 why should there be fishhooks on the desert? Echinocactus 

 polyancistrus Is a very interesting and showy Visnagita grow- 

 ing on mesas and deserts; though widely distributed, It never 

 appears In abundance, and Is rather rare. It is densely and 

 conspicuously spiny, covered with sharp needlelike thorns 

 placed radially, a half-Inch long or longer, dangerously 

 hooked, spreading, and very formidable; resembling the 

 common fishhook and far more fearful. This cactus Is 

 most conspicuous and attractive In Its white shining armor 

 of spines. The blossoms are large and showy and remain 

 open for several days. At first rose-purple, they change 

 to a deep crimson, while the throat of the flower is broad 

 and covered with yellow stamens; the styles are bright red, 

 and even the mature fruit is a brilliant red. The flowers 

 grow in clusters from near the tops of the plants and create 

 a splash of fiery crimson over the mesas, beautiful to behold, 

 flaming against the dark background of mesqulte and sage- 

 brush and other desert cacti. 



