190 FORT YUMA 
lel with it. Sometimes the branches are singularly 
contorted ; but usually, their disposition is symmetri- 
cal, and the appearance of the whole plant has been, 
not inaptly, compared to that of a giant candelabrum. 
The stem is from one foot to two feet six inches in 
diameter, usually smaller near the base, and from twen- 
ty to fifty feet in height. This immense column is 
admirably strengthened by a circle of ribs of strong and 
elastic wood, which are imbedded in the cellular mass 
of the plant, several inches within the circumference, 
and extend to the roots. This woody portion remains 
after the fleshy substance of the plant decays, looking 
hike a huge skeleton. The stem is marked with longi- 
tudinal furrows, which are shallow towards the ground, 
and deeper and more numerous towards the summit; 
and above the ribs it is thickly set with clusters of 
spines or thorns. Of these there are six large and 
numerous small ones, in each cluster. As the plant 
increases in age, the larger spines fall off, leaving a ray 
of smaller ones, which lie close to the stem. 
Most travellers who have noticed this cereus, have 
not been fortunate enough to see the fruit and flower, 
but have derived their accounts of them from the In- 
dians. On our passage across the country in Septem- 
ber, October, November, and December, we saw the 
tree ; and on our return in June and July, we had the 
satisfaction of beholding the fruit in perfection, and 
occasional specimens of the flower. The plant proba- 
bly blooms late in May, or early in June ; and the fruit 
is matured in July and August. The flowers are borne 
on the summits of the branches, are three inches in 
diameter, and about the same in length. The petals 
