Flowers of the Southwest Deserts

by Natt N. Dodge

Ferocactus wislizeni

Common names: BARREL CACTUS, COMPASS CACTUS, DEVILSHEAD CACTUS, (BISNAGA), (BISNAGRE) Arizona desert: (Ferocactus wislizeni). Orange-yellow. July-September. California desert: (Ferocactus acanthodes). Yellow. March-May. Texas desert: (Echinocactus horizonthalonius). Rose-pink. May-June. Cactus family. Size: 2 to 8 feet high.

Well known among the desert figures are the heavy-bodied Barrel Cacti which are sometimes pointed out as sources of water for travelers suffering from thirst. Under extreme conditions, it is possible to hack off the tops of these tough, spine-protected plants and obtain, by squeezing the macerated tissues, enough juice to sustain life.

Growing faster on the shaded side, the taller-growing plants tend to lean toward the south, hence the name “Compass” cactus. Flowers range in color from yellow to orange and rose-pink, depending on the species, and the pale yellow, egg-shaped fruits which ripen early in the winter, are a favorite food of deer and rodents. Flowers, and the resulting fruits, form a ring around the crown of the plant.

The flesh of the Barrel cactus, cooked in sugar, forms the base of cactus candy.

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