Plate 12 



Opuntia lindheimeri in fruit. An unusual growth of prickly 

 pear for this county. Note how the blossoms form on the edge of 

 the leaf-like stems. During- the periods of drought enormous 

 quantities of this plant are fed to livestock, particularly cattle, after 

 the thorns have been burned off by torches or "pear burners" 

 especially made for that purpose. To the cattlemen it is one of the 

 most valuable of our native plants. 



Hedgehog cactus (Echinocactus setispinus). An addition to any 

 flower bed, as the big yellow blossoms form continuously from April 

 to late summer. A fairly common cactus in the mesquite area, but 

 rarely seen, as it usually nestles close to a mesquite tree, or under 

 a sheltering bush, where it is well concealed by grass and weeds. 



