A DESERT GRAVEYARD 181 



Mexican Fruit Cactus (Echinocactus hamatacan- 



thus — Echinocactus longihamatus) 



(Named hamatacanthus from the hooked spines) 



How to identify and how it grows 



This species grows with solitary stems, only occasionally 

 two to three together, a foot or so high, nearly a foot through 

 and cylindrical. Along the stems run thirteen to seventeen 

 quite prominent ribs covered with coarse tubercles, and a 

 dozen or so two-inch radial spines and one to four central 

 thorns, three to six inches long. These grooved spines are 

 all crooked and twisted, also quite slender and brittle, some- 

 times breaking or splitting lengthwise. The radials are 

 purplish, the centrals gray or tan. The flowers are three 

 inches long, yellow tinged with tans and reds. The fruit is 

 oblong, sweet, and edible. From It the dried sweetmeats 

 are made. 



How to grow 



Transplant at any season, preferably In the spring, in 

 sandy or gravelly clay loam in sunny exposures, with enough 

 irrigation to keep the soil moist. The plants grow readily 

 from seed sown in sandy loam In flats with part shade and 

 watered sufl^clently to keep the soil lightly moist. They 

 grow Inside and out and are uninjured by zero temperature, 

 but with colder weather they should have protection. 



Mexican Lime Cactus; Limos de Visnaga 



(Echinocactus Pringlei — Ferocactus Pringlei) 



(Named in honor of C. G. Pringle, botanist and collector of 

 southwestern plants) 



How to identify and how it grows 



The stems of this species grow singly or occasionally in 

 clumps of a few. They are three to nine feet tall, something 



