58 
PLANTS AND INSECTS 
fact, you will notice that the house-plant varieties of cacti produce the 
blossom either from the tip of the growth of the plant or from the ex¬ 
treme tip of the branches, as does the night-blooming Cereus. 
The barrel cactus, receiving its 
name from its shape, is also very 
common in Arizona and southern 
California. It not only is shaped 
like a barrel, hut often also resem¬ 
bles one in size. 
In the arid valleys and rocky 
slopes of the mountains are what 
are commonly called the “mound 
cacti.’’ These vary in size from a 
few inches across to that of a bushel 
basket upturned. These are covered 
with thousands of sharp needles and 
have no particular beauty; but dur¬ 
ing blossom-time we are inclined to 
have a greater regard and admira¬ 
tion for them. These mounds are 
then covered with beautiful, deli¬ 
cate, waxy flowers. Some are bright red, while others are of a beautiful 
yellow. Surrounded by rocks, parched soil, and scrubby bunches of 
grass, these present a charming and spectacular appearance. They 
The barrel cactus 
