Indian Strawberry Cactus (Echinocereus Engelmannii)
Western Arizona, Northern Mexico, Southern Utah, Southern Nevada, and Southern California
Here is the Echinocereus Engelmannii, or Engelmann’s Hedgehog Cactus. This fine Strawberry Cactus may be found clinging to the foothills and low mountains in arid, sandy or gravelly desert land, growing in clumps of a few to twenty or more stems, six inches to a foot or more high and two or three inches through, rather cylindrical. This fine species is very appropriately named in honor of Dr. George Engelmann of St. Louis, one of the greatest authorities on cacti. Deep purple-pink flowers appear in early spring, seeming at times to be clustered because of the masses of brilliantly tinged blossoms three to four inches long; though in reality they grow singly on the stems, and bloom for several days, opening in the forenoon and closing toward evening. The thirteen to seventeen stiff awl-shaped radial spines, one-fourth inch to one inch long, and the three or four stout firm central thorns remind one of stiff tousled medium brown hair partly turned gray, the colors being grayish, tan, and brownish, all mixed together. The fruit, enormous “strawberries,” is covered by many spine clusters which at maturity are easily rubbed off, leaving it quite smooth, of a deep purple-red, with many small black seeds set in a pinkish mass of sweet tender pulp. The Pima and Papago Indians are very fond of this luscious cactus strawberry when fully ripe and served with cream and sugar or cooked into the most delicious conserves and jam; they gather it in considerable quantities and occasionally one can buy the fruit or preserves in their markets, in Arizona, Southern California or old Mexico. And so Dr. Engelmann’s Strawberry Cactus has earned the name, also, of the Indian Strawberry Cactus, or “Desert Strawberry.”
GOLDEN SPINED STRAWBERRY CACTUS (Echinocereus chrysocentrus)
Lovely strawberries on the end of an armored stick, delicate colorings, enticing, inviting.
TURK’S HEAD (Echinocactus horizonthalonius)
Quite like a Turk’s head when in flower with the pinkish purple tassel at the tip.
