Cacti - A Golden Guide

A GOLDEN GUIDE

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by FRANK D. VE NNING Illustrated by MANABU C. SAITO Under the general editorship of

VERA R. WEBSTER

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GOLDEN PRESS

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NEW YORK

Western Publishing Company, Inc. Racine, Wisconsin

FOREWORD

Of all the plants in the world, few are more remarkable than cacti"for their strange forms, spectacular flowers, and amazing adaptations for survival. Originating as small leafy jungle trees, they first adapted over the aeons to life in the desert. But during further ages many again adapted to other conditions, so that modern cacti are by no means all desert dwellers. Some species became tolerant to cold, and now grow in grasslands on the plains a,nd prairies, or live high up in the mountains, .e ven far above the timberline. Others now prefer the seacoast, while still others have returned to the jungle, where they take the form of scrambling vines, or cling as air-plants high in the forest trees. Yet within all these diverse habitats, most cacti are highly adapted to occupy special ecological niches in the en­ vironment-niches where they can avoid competition by living under conditions so difficult or unusual that few other plants can survive or prosper there. This book surveys the Cactus Family by illustrating and describing selected species and varieties to show the range of form and adaptation within it, and includes many species and varieties native to the United States. F. D . V .

Copyright © 1974 b y Western Publishing Company, Inc. All rights reserved, including rights of reproduction and use in any form or by any means, including the making of copies by any photo process, or by any electronic or mechanical device, printed or written or oral, or recording for sound or visual reproduction or for use in any knowledge retrieval system or device, unless permission in writing is obtained from the copyright proprietor. Produced in the U.S.A. Pub­ lished by Golden Press, New York, N.Y. library of Congress Catalog Cord Number, 74-76431

C O NT E NT S FOREWORD

....

THE O R I G I N OF CACTI ADA PTAT I O N S FOR SURVIVAL . A B E R R A N T FORMS OF CACTI . CLASS I F I CAT I O N OF CACTI GLOSSARY DE S C R I PT I O N S OF CACTI Pereskia Nopaleo Opuntia Cereus . Epiphyllum and allied genera . Echinocereus . Echinopsis and allied genera Chamaecereus

......... ......103

Mammillaria

..........112

Gymnocalycium Ferocactus ................ .........

..116

.

Echinocactus

..120

Stenocactus .

............................... ................126

Notocactus and Parodic Melacactus

. . . . . .

. . . . . .

...... ... ...... .... .........128

. . . . . . . . . .

. . .

. . .

Scleracactus

. . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

134

.......... .......136

Pediocactus .

138

Thelocactus .

. .....140

Neallaydia

. . . . . . . .

142

Ancistrocactus and Laphophara Coryphantha . Aztekium and Obregania leuchtenbergia and Strombacactus. Ariocarpus

B I B L I OGRAPHY I N DEX .

..1 58

T H E O R IGIN O F C AC T I Cacti originated in the Americas, most probably in Mex­ ico, but now range from British Columbia to Massachu­ setts, and all the way down to Patagonia, near the tip of South America. Our knowledge of their history is incomplete, because few cacti ever inhabited sites where fossil formation could occur; studies of continental drift and climatic changes during geologic times give some insight into their development: Before the rise of flowering plants, when cone-bearing trees dominated the earth, all of the land was united as a single super-continent with a warm moist climate, surrounded by a single ocean. Then, about 13 5 million years ago, as dinosaurs declined and the insects arose, flowering plants began to compete with the conifers; at the same time, rifts appeared in the earth's crust. The northern and southern land-mass split apart, and a rift also appeared between Africa and South America. North America split from Europe 80 million years ago, and also began drifting west. By 65 million years ago, the North and South Atlantic Oceans had taken shape, South America and Africa were 2 0 0 0 miles apart, flowering plants dominated the landscape, and the universal warm moist climate ended. Broad bands of dry climate gradually appeared on each side of the 3 0th parallel in the northern and southern hemispheres, and the stage was set for the cacti to' appear. But apparently all the ancestral prototypes were isolated in the Americas, or evolved there after the continents had drifted apart. It is thought that the ancestors of the highly special­ ized modern cacti were small leafy trees with a woody trunk, not too different from some present-day Pereskias 4

(Pa g es

10- 1 1}.

These

are

mostly

d ro u g h t-avoi d i n g

pla n ts; t h ey s i m ply s h e d t h e i r l e a v e s a n d g o d o r m a n t d u r i n g t h e d ry s e a so n . Oth e rs h ave sli g h t l y t h i c k e n e d leaves t h a t sto re s m a ll reserves of w a t e r . Only t w o fo ssil ca cti have e v e r b e e n fo u n d . T h e old ­ est, from Uta h , lived a bout 50 m illi o n y e a r s a g o i n t h e M i d d le Eoc e n e. I t w a s a fla t - j o i nted pla n t m u c h li k e a p r i c k l y p e a r b u t wi t h m o r e p r i m i tive fruits, c o n fi r m i n g t h a t so m e c a cti were s p e c i a lized fo r life i n a n a r i d e n ­ v i ro n m e n t t h a t lo n g a g o . T h e oth e r fo ss il, fro m Arizo n a , i s of a r e c e n t O p u n t i a fro m t h e Ple i sto c e n e , le ss th a n 2 m i llion y e a r s old . ADAPTATIONS FOR SURVIVAL

As t h e Americ a n de s e rts c a me into bein g , c a cti c o n ­ fro n ted a n e n vironment of i n t e n s e sunlig h t , low h umi d ity, hot dry winds, sca n ty rainfall, a n d ext re m e fluctua t i o n s betw e e n da y a n d nig ht -time t e m p e ratures. Survival u n ­ der t h e s e conditio n s m e a n t resolvi n g two p ro b le m s: h ow to h a n d le excessiv e h e a t, a nd h o w to a void d ry i n g up. Ad a ptatio n required t h e a b ility t o m ake c o n tin u a l a d j u s t m e n t s to prev e n t i n t e r n a l te m p e ra t u r e s from b e ­ c o m i n g leth al, w h ile lo sing a s little w a t e r a s possi ble. It s h ou ld be ke pt in m i nd that chlo rophyll, t h e pig m e n t n ecessa ry for p h otosy n t h esis, a ppea rs g re e n to t h e eye beca u s e it a b s o r b s m u c h of t h e bl u e -vio l et a n d s h o rt red rays of the s pectru m , b u t reflects most of the g re e n rays; a p a rt o f t h e a b sorbed ra d i a n t e n e r g y i s c o n v e rted to h e a t, c a usin g a p l a n t to h eat u p i n s id e . D u r i n g t h e d a y, la r g e Opuntias a n d b a rrel c a cti beco m e 1 8 ° to 27° F hotter th a n t h e surrounding air. (Ex p e ri m e n t s s h o w t h a t some Opun tia s c a n survive i n t e r n a l t e m p e ra t u r e s a p ­ p r o a c hing 1 4 5 ° F , which i s a bove t h e let h a l m a x i m u m fo r m a n y o t h er c a cti.) 5

A b a s i c way i n w h i c h ca cti h a v e a d a pted i s by m o d i­ fyi n g t h e i r for m s so a s to r e d u c e t h e a m o u n t of exte r n a l s u rfa ce in relati o n t o th eir total volu m e. Th is l e d t o a ba n ­ d o n i n g g reen leaves, tra n sferring ph otosy n t h e s i s t o t h e ste m , a n d t h e ste m s beco min g m o r e a n d m o r e glo b e-l i k e i n m a n y s p e c i e s . In a d d i tio n , c a cti d evelo p e d m ech a ­ n i s m s fo r r e d u c i n g t h e h e a t loa d . P r i c kly p e a rs often positio n t h e i r joints with t h e fla t s i d e s f a c i n g ea st a n d west; t h u s t h e i n t e n s e m id d a y s u n lig h t o n ly str i k e s t h e t h i n u p p e r e d g e o f t h e p a d s . S o m e d evelo p e d pig m e n ts t h a t reflect p a rt of t h e red o r blue lig h t; others h a ve t i n y s u rface h a i rs t h a t scatter so m e of t h e incoming radia tio n. Cactus spin e s are actu a l l y hig h l y m o d ified l eaves; b esid e affo rding p h ysic a l p rotectio n , t h e y a bs o r b a n d refl ect m u c h l ig ht, keeping t he u n d e rlying tis s u e a s m u c h a s 2 0 ° F c o o l e r t h a n it wo u l d b e if th ey were l a c kin g . T h e spines, b ristl e s , a n d h airs t h a t a d or n ca cti a l so trap a thin layer of a i r n ext to t h e ste m , w hic h acts a s i n s u l a ­ tio n a n d s l ows heat tra n sfer. C a cti a l so have m e c h a n i s m s fo r collecting a n d con­ serving water. T h e a bso rbing roots, m ostly in t h e u p p e r soil, ca n m a k e fuller u s e of lig h t ra i n s of sli g h t p e n etra­ tio n . Ma ny yo u n g c a cti ha v e d o w n - p o i n t i n g s p i n e s t h a t a c t a s d ri p-ti p s ; t h e s e collect fog, d ew, o r lig h t ra i n a n d c h a n nel it t o t h e roots. A n d most c a cti h a v e a n a b u n ­ d a n ce of water-sto rage tissue i n t h e i r ste m s or roots, with reinforced walls to p revent its colla pse w h e n water reserves a re l'o w . T h e sto m ates, o r p o r e s t h roug h whic h cacti b r e a t h e a n d exc h a ng e g a s e s with t h e a i r, a r e s u n k e n i n p its below t h e ste m s u rface, r e d u cing water v a p o r l o s s from 3 0 to 70 p e rc e n t . Those of c a cti can c l o s e d u r i ng the h ea t of t h e d a y , w h e n t h e tra n s p i ra t i o n r a t e w o u l d b e h i g h . 6

T h e c e l l s a p is m u c i l a g i nous, a n d a s water reserves are used the p roto p l a s m beco m e s t h i c k and viscous, b i n d i n g th e d wi n d l i n g water m o re and m o re ti g h tl y . A n d s o m e c a cti c a n m a i n ta i n a c o n sta nt water b a l a n c e b y ox i d izi n g t h e i r sto red s u g a r. I n o n e e x p e ri m e nt, O p u n t i a jo i nts were k e pt in t h e d a r k fo r 5 m o n t h s at 82° F; t h ey m a i n ta i n e d a con sta nt i n t e r n a l water b a l ­

a n c e d u r i n g t h e w h o l e t i m e , a lthoug h t h ey lost water c o n s t a n t l y through tra n s p i ration . A l l t h e s e m a rvelous a d a ptati o n s fo r s u rviva l i n a h o s ­ ti l e e n v i ro n m e n t c a r r i ed a "price tag :" t h e m o r e s p e ­ c i a l ized a c a c t u s b ec a m e i n h a n d l i n g excessive h ea t a n d c o n s e rvi n g water, t h e m o r e its life p roc e s s e s a n d g rowth rate were fo rced to slow dow n . In tu r n , the s l ow rate of g rowt h restri cts a b i l i ty to co m p ete a mo n g o rd i n a ry faster-grow i n g l eafy p l a nts i n a m o re m o i st e n v i ro n m e nt. A n d some ca cti ha ve become so h i g h ly a d a pted to a spe­ cific h a b i t a t t h a t i f even a s l i g h t c h a n g e w e re to o c c u r in t h e e n v i ro n m e nt, t h ey would p r o b a b l y fa c e ext i n ctio n . AB E R R AN T F OR M S OF C AC T I

In ca cti t h a t g row a s col u m n s o r g l o b e s , e a c h stem h a s a s i n g l e d e l icate g rowi n g p o i n t at t h e t i p , u s u a l ly with i n a s l ig h t d e p ressio n , a n d p rotected by a m a s s o f felt, wool, and s p i n e s . But o c c a s io n a l l y t h e g rowi n g poi n t is i n ju r e d a n d its cells b e g i n d i vi d i n g a sy m m etri c a l ly; t h e n ew g rowth ta kes m o n strous fo r m s o r twists l i ke a cork­ screw. Th e g rowi n g point m a y g r a d u a l ly tu r n into a g rowth l i n e, fo r m i n g crests, fa n s , or d o m e s at t h e top of t h e p l a n t . S o m e c a ctus seed l i n g s a r e b orn w i t h o u t c h lo r o p h y l l . In n a t u re t h ey d ie w h i l e tiny, after co n s u ming th e food sto red in the s e e d . But t h ey l ive a n d g row in d efinitely if g ra fted o n to a g re e n cactus rootsto c k .

7

C L AS S IF IC AT IO N O F C AC T I

When the Conquistadors landed in the Americas, they were astonished by the cacti. Examples sent to Europe amazed botanists and laymen alike, and truly seemed to be plants from a New World. Their spines suggested they were somehow like thistles; when Linnaeus founded the present system of plant classification in 17 53, he grouped them under the name Cactus, from the ancient Greek word kaktos, meaning thistle. Ever since, this plant family has been the Cactaceae, a single plant a more than one plant

cacti.

cactus,

They are not too closely re­

lated to any other family, and are placed in a separate Order, Cactales, within the Class

Dicotyledonae

(the

flowering plants whose seeds have two cotyledons, or seed leaves). In addition to naming plants, classification forms a framework upon which all other knowledge of plants is arranged so it can be readily found when needed. To provide a usable framework, plants must be grouped to show the natural relationships between them. And within each family, classification should conform with prevailing practice throughout the world as a whole for naming the entire Plant Kingdom. During the first half of this century, radical systems of cactus classification were published, creating vast numbers of new genera and species, many based on trivial or unstable characteristics, thus obscuring natural relationships within the family. Today, cacti are receiv­ ing painstaking study and careful revisions in classifica­ tion. The scientific names of cacti used in this book agree with the conservative revisions that have thus far been made in the family. As additional revisions occur, nota­ tions to that effect will be included. 8

GLOSSARY Acute, term i n a t i n g in a s h arp or wel l - defined a n g l e . m o d e u p of hori­ zontal r i n g - l i ke b o n d s .

Annulate,

Apex, the t i p or s u m m i t of a structure. Areole, i n cacti, a clearly de­ fi n ed s m a l l a rea t h a t may bear felt, h a i r, sp i n es, g lo­ chids, flowers, or new bra n ch e s . A x i l , the u pper a n g l e t h a t a structure m a kes with t h e stem to w h i c h it is atta c h e d . Cephalium, a per m a n e n t h e a d with a w o o d y core t h a t de­ velops a t t h e stem a pex when a p l a n t is m a t u re ; bears t h e flowers a n d f r u i ts. Coalesce, to g row together. Corymb, a s h ort brood flower­ c l u s ter in which the lower flowers open fi rst. Deciduous, f a l l i n g off a t ma­ t u rity, or a t certa i n seaso n s . Diurnal, day-bloo m i n g . Epiphyte, g rowi n g o n other p l a n ts, but n o t para s i tic. Glaucous, covered by a w h it­ i s h " b loom " t h a t r u b s off. Glochid, a t h i n ba rbed bristle, prod uced i n t h e oreoles of Chollas, Pri c k l y Pears, a n d a few other cacti. Monotypic, having o n e s pecies . Nocturnal, n i g h t- b l oo m i n g . Offshoot, a new p l a n t a r i s i n g f r o m t h e mother p l a n t. Ovary, t h e lower swo l l e n port of the pistil, conta i n i n g ov u le s ; after fert i l izati o n , t h e ovu l e s d evelop i n to seeds and the ova ry i n to the f r u i t .

Panicle, a s i m p l e elo n g a te c l u s ­

ter o f flowers, the lowe r-most ope n i n g first. Perianth, t h e sepals and petals col lectively; s a i d of cactus fl owers w here th ere i s a grad u a l tra n s i tion from se­ pal -li ke to peta l - l i ke ports. Persistent, re m a i n i n g attach e d . Pistil, t h e f e m a l e p o r t of t h e flower; the ovary a t its bose becomes the f r uit, the stigma a t its tip is the pollen re­ ceiver, which the t u b u l a r style con nects t o the ova ry. Porrect, sta n d i n g perpe n d i c u l a r t o t h e s u rface. Pseudocephalium, a " f a lse h ea d , " a tem porary m o d i fi ­ c a t i o n of t h e s t e m a t flow­ eri n g ; i t does not preven t f u rther g rowth o f t h e g ree n stem, as does a cepholium. Scale, a s m a l l vesti g i a l leaf. Scrub, a region of low , often dense s t u n ted b u s h e s . Sepal, o n e of t h e o u ter s e g ­ m en ts of the perio n t h . Stamen, the p o l l e n -beari n g ( m o l e ) port o f t h e flower. Stigma, the pol l e n - receiver at t h e tip of t h e style. Stolon, a h orizo n t a l stem at or below g ro u n d t h a t prod u ces a n ew p l a n t at its tip. Style, e l o n g a te con n ection be­ tween t h e ovary and s ti g m a . Tuber, u n dergrou n d s t e m u s ed as a storag e org a n . Tubercle, a nipple-like protru ­ sion from stem or fruit. Zygomorphic, b i l a tera l l y sym­ m etrica l .

9

PERESKIA, a Tropical American genus of leafy trees, shrubs, and vines, more closely resembles ordinary woody plants rather than cacti. Pereskias are living examples of nonsucculent primitive cacti from which the succulent species evolved. They have sharp smooth unsheathed spines on the trunk, branches, and in the leaf axils. leaves are alternate, broad, flat, deciduous or rather fleshy; flowers are solitary or in corymbs or panicles. The edible fruits can be leafy. Most Pereskias root easily from cuttings and are often used as living fenceposts or for hedges, and as rootstocks for grafting ornamental epiphytic cacti. 10

PERESKIA GUAMACHO, Gu o ­ macho, a little tree u p t o 1 6 feet h i g h , i s common along the sem i-arid Ca ribbean coast of Colom bia a nd Venezuela. The bark of tru nk and bra n c h e s is yellowis h - g reen, on w h ich the old areoles stand out like s m a l l knobs fi lied with bro w n felt a n d rigid spines . I n the dry s eason the leaves are dropped ; t h e tree fl owers prof usely be­ fore refoliatin g . The flowers close at nig h t, opening again the next morning at 9 a m . T h e tru n k, u p t o 1 5 inches in dia m eter, is u s ed for wood .

ACULEATA (pric kly) , Ba r­ bados Gooseberry, Lemon Vine, or Blade Apple, beg ins life as an erect s h ru b , b u t la ter grows cla m berin g branches over 30 feet long that sca l e rocks, walls, and trees. The s h owy le mon-scented blossoms are followed by clusters of yellow berries eaten thro u g h o u t t h e W e s t I n die s ; t h e leaves a r e cooked as a p o t h erb i n Brazil. There are a lso w h ite a nd yel­ low-flowered races. Long in c u l­ tiva tion, t h is species was grown at t h e Royal Gardens at H a m p ­ t o n Court b efore 1696. P.

NOPALEA, closely related to Opuntia, differs in that the sepals and petals do not open, but remain upright and closely oppressed around the numerous stamens and the style, which are much longer thon the petals. N.

C O C H I N E LLIFERA,

the

Co­

c h i neal Cact u s , h a d long been grown in ''n o p a l ries ' ' by the Aztecs before Cortez: conqu ered Mexico in 1 5 1 8 . S m a l l cotto ny­ white patches o n the joi n ts were brushed off, crushed, a n d stea med, releas i n g t h e scarlet dye Coc h i n e a l . The Crown or­ dered all t h a t c o u l d be ob-

12

tained,

and

made

in

Worlds. of

a

the

plantings Old

Only in

1 703,

microscope,

while

growths

sects

(females

self.

New

by oid

were

the

found to be in­ of

scale), not part of the

were

and

Coccus

cacti

Nopalea it­

The industry waned after discovery

of

aniline

dyes;

now revived in the Canaries.

OPU NTIA ( Cholla; Prickly Pear ) is native to much of the Western Hemisphere, ranging from Massachusetts to British Columbia, and southward to the Straits of Magellan. Individual species vary from 20-foot trees with spreading crowns to small ground-hugging plants a few inches high. The stems and branches are chains of ribless joints that are globular, cylindrical, or flattened, usually very fleshy, but sometimes woody. If tubercles are present they are separate, not fused together, with the areole uppermost. Areoles are rather uniformly distributed over the flat -sided species. On new growth, a leaf develops just beneath each creole; these leaves are usually small fleshy awl-like appendages from % to 1 inch long, rarely to 2 inches, that are quickly shed as the joint matures. Areoles are commonly armed with from 1 to 15 or 20 spines that emerge from the lower side of the creole; a few species are spineless. The spines vary greatly in color, length, and texture; mostly they are smooth, but sculptured or barbed in a few. The areoles of all Opuntias are armed with tufts of glochids: tiny barbed bristles, easily detached, that readily penetrate the skin and work their way into the flesh. Flower-buds appear from within the areoles lo­ cated near the top of joints grown during the previ­ ous season. Flowers are diurnal and may last several days. The tube is very short above its connection to the ovary, with the stamens attached to this part of the tube; it is deciduous after flowering. The ripe fruits are either fleshy or dry; they are often bright-colored and long-lasting, making some species more attractive when in fruit than when in flower. Their areoles may be hairy or spiny.

13

( s pi­ ny- fru ited) Silver or Golden intricately­ Chollo is an branched shrub or dwarf tree of grave l l y or s a n d y soils of the Sanora n , Mojave, a n d Colo­ rado Deserts between 1 000 a n d 5600 feet elevatio n . I t ranges from N E Ba j a Califor­ nia a n d W So nora, Mexico, across S E California, S Nevada, SW Uta h , a nd W Arizona. I ts bra n ch e s , l ike those of a l l Chollas, a re tu bercu late a n d OPUNTIA E C H I N O CARPA

14

circu lar in cross- section. The dense a w l - s h a ped s pines, 3 to 1 2 per areole, are stra i g h t a n d u n ba rbed, 3 ,4 to 1 Y 2 in ches l o n g . I nd ivi d u a l p la n ts a re either silver or g o l de n - s pined. As in all Chollas, the e pider­ mis of each s p i n e sepa rates into a t h in pa pery s h e a t h ; s h e a t h s are co n s pi c u o u s a n d persistent, the s a m e color as the s p i n e . Flowering in m id-s prin g , the dry tan decid uous fruits ripen in early s u m m er.

0. S PI N O S I O R ( f u l l of s p i n es), Cane C h a l l a , p refers deep sai ls of desert g rassla n d s a t 2000 to 6500 feet eleva tion . From Sonora and C h i h u a h u a , Mex­ ico, i t ra n g e s north i n to SE Arizo n a a n d SW New Mexico. A l i tt l e tree with a s h ort t h i c k tru n k a n d long bra nch es, re ndered conspi c u o u s by whorls of s h o r t joi n ts a t rig h t a n g les to t h e main bra n c hes and its gray or p u rp l i sh-gray spi n e s . T h e jo i n ts, mostly 5 to 1 2

i n c h es long a n d a b o u t an i n c h t h i c k , are s t u dded by s m a l l t u ­ The s h ort barbed bercles. spines, 1 0 to 20 per areole, h ave d u l l t a n s h e a t h s . The lacy wooden i n n e r core of t h e s te m s i s prized f o r m a k i n g c a n e s . T h e 2 - i n c h flowers a ppear i n spri n g ; t h e i r c o l o r varies b e ­ tween p l a n t s , f r o m p u rple a n d r e d to y e l l o w , g ree n , or rarely w h i te. The stron g l y - t u bercu l a te fl e s h y oval fru i ts a re yellow, s p i n eless, 1 3;4 inches l o n g .

15

OPUNTIA I MBRI CATA ( overlap­

p i n g , referri n g to t h e a p pear­ a n ce of the tu bercles I Coyo­ nostle ; Tree C h o l la, g rows at e l evati o n s of 4000 to 6000 feet, preferri n g s a n d y or g rav­ e l l y soils of the grasslands. I t is fo u n d m ostly E o f t h e Rock­ ies, fram central Mexico to SE Colorado and SW Kansas, i n ­ cluding W Oklahoma and the W h a l f of Texas. Tree Challas h ave cyl i n d rical joints 5 to 1 5 i n ches long and

16

about a n inch thick, with very p ro m i n e n t s h a r p ly-ra ised tu bercles. T h e strong ly- barbed s p i n es , 1 0 to 3 0 per areole a n d J,; t o 1 % i n ches long, a re a l ­ most needle- li k e b u t s l i g h tly fl a ttened , w i t h dull tan pa pery s h eath s that last about a year. The flowers, 2 to 3 i n ch e s w i d e , a p pear i n late s p r i n g . The yel low s p i n eless fruits, t o 1'!4 i n ches long, a re fl e s h y, stro n g l y tu berc u late ; they hold t h ro u g h w i n ter.

0. VERS I CO LO R ( variously col­ ored, referri n g to t h e flowers ) ca lled Staghorn C h o l l a , g rows i n deep s a n dy soils of c a n ­ yon s , val leys, a n d washes o f the Arizo n a Desert i n N So­ n ora and south -centra l Arizon a . A d u l t p l a n ts are s m a l l trees, the u l timate bra nches rem i n i ­ scen t of a s t a g ' s a n tlers. T h e joints, mostly 5 to 14 inches long and less than 1 i n c h thick, h ave fairly pro m i ­ n e n t long t u bercles. The s p i n e s ,

7 to 1 0 per areole, are s hort, s l i g h tl y barbed, and lose t h e i r s h ea t h s w i t h i n a m o n t h or two. The flowers, 1 � to 2� i n c h e s wide, a p pear i n s p ri n g ; each plant h a s its own color, vary i n g f r o m purple, r e d , a n d r o s e t o yellow, ora n g e , bronze, brown , or gree n . T h e b ra n ches t e n d to take the s a m e color a s t h e flowers i n w i n ter o r d u ri n g dro u g h t. T h e fruits pers i s t for severa l years ; n e w f r u i ts s o m e ­ times deve lop f r o m t h e o l d .

17

OPUNTIA FU LGIDA ( g listen i n g , referri n g t o t h e spines ) called J u m pi n g Chollo, often forms forests on sandy desert soils at 1 000 to 3000 feet e l evation . R a n g es from Sina loa, Mexico, northward to centra l Arizo n a . The j o i n t s , 2 t o 6 i n c h e s long a n d t o 2 i n ches thick, with large m a m m i l l ate tu ber­ cles, are a l m ost hidden be h i n d t h e d e n s e barbed spines. A puff of w i n d , or t h e vibration

18

of a footstep w i l l detach t h e term i n a l joi n ts, w h ic h q u ickly root a n d propagate t h e p l a n t. If touched or dropped on m o n or a n i m a l , t h e fl e s h is pierce d . Flowering exte n d s f r o m early spring to Septem ber. T h e j u icy fruits, u s u a l l y s p i n e less, are held on the plant and sou g h t b y graz i n g a n i m a ls . T h e a re­ ales of old fruits bear flowers, i n turn for m i n g n e w fruits lin ked to the old.

0. B I GELOVI I ( fo r J a cob M. Bigelow, 1 78 6 - 1 8 79, American bota n i s t ) called Teddy Bear Cholla; Ba l l Cholla, h a s viciou s stro n g ly barbed s p i n e s , very hard to rem ove from s k i n or flesh. Its joi nts " j u m p" at a bare to u c h . T h i s c h o l l a g rows i n roc ky or g ravelly soils, from Sonora and N Baja C a l ifornia, Mexico, north over the Colorado Desert and lower Arizo n a Desert, in

SE Californ i a and W and S Ari­ zona, a t e levation s of 1 0 0 to 3000 feet. On m o u n t a i n s lopes or h i l ls , i t g rows o n t h e warm s u n n y southern side. Branches of these m i n iature trees are m uc h s h orter t h a n t h e central tru n k . The u l t i m a te j o i n ts a re 3 - i n c h s p h eres. The tiny rou n d fleshy fruits, less t h a n a n i n c h wide, are h id d e n by t h e spines of the joi n t s ; last for o n e w i n ter.

19

O PUNTI A LE PTO CAULIS ( with t h i n ste m s ) also called Desert C h ristmas Cactus, Tasa j i l lo, a n d Tes ajo, u s u a l l y g rows a m o n g the desert scrub o n p l a i n s a n d bollo m l a n d s at e l evations of 2 0 0 to 3 0 0 0 feel. It ranges widely, from P u e b l o , Mexico, to W-cenlral Arizona, east to SW and S-cen lra l O k l a h o m a , a n d over W a n d S Texas. T h i s tru n k less cholla is a b u s h or erect s m a l l s h ru b , the main b ranches com posed of

20

t h i n cy l i n d rical joi nts to 1 6 inches long, with d e n s e woody cores. Tu bercles are obscure, and ·th e joi nts are s mooth . Each areole prod uces j u s t one needle- l i k e s l i g h tly barbed spine 1 to 2 i n c h e s long. lat­ eral joi n ts a re only 1 Ia 3 i n c h e s long, less t h a n \4- i n c h t h i c k , at fi r s t s p i n eless. Flower color varies from yel low to green or bronze. The fru its hold over w i nter; con spic­ u o u s when t h e desert i s drab.

RAM O S I S S I MA ( m uch· bra nched ) a l s o ca l led D i a m o n d C h a l l a , g rows i n s a n d y des ert w a s h e s a n d an the desert fl oor at 1 0 0 to a s m u ch a s 3 0 00. feet e l evati o n , from NW Sonora to the S Mojave and Colorado Deserts, S C a l iforn i a , S Neva da, a n d W Arizo n a . E i t h e r s h r u bby, m atted, o r tree-li ke, t h e m a i n bra nches much rebra nched, t h i s cholla is a m o n g the least s u ccu lent; the i n ner core of you n g s h oots be· 0.

comes wood with i n a year. T h e j o i n ts are 2 to 4 i n c h es long a n d '.4 - i n c h thick, covered by flat d i a m o n d - s h a ped tu ber· cles with a reoles i n notc h e s at the u p per e n d s . S p i n e s c l u ster 1 to 4 per c reole, but o n l y 1 deve lops, from 1 Y2 to 2'.4 i n ches long, w ith m a n y barbs and a thin con s p i c u o u s s h eath . Flowers o re borne on s h ort lateral bra n c h e s . The m a n y sta m e n s g ive t h e m a yel low h u e ; a ctu a l peta l color varies.

21

E R I NACEA ( l i k e a hedgehog) var. ursina (bear. l i ke), k n own as Griz.z ly Bear Cactus, g rows on rocky h i l lsides i n t h e Mojave Desert at 4000 to 5500 feet el evation , i n N Ari· zona, SW Utah , S Nevada a n d SE California. This flat-jointed prickly pear is notable for long tawn y-wh ite flexible s p i n e s t h a t cover the bases of t h e lower joints. Som e of these s p i n e s a re 3 or 4 inches long i n w i l d plants; in OPUNTIA

22

flne c u ltivated s e lections they ore more t h a n twice this leng t h . The joints t h e mselves are elon gated, 4 to 5 i n c h e s long a n d 1 to 2 i n ch e s wide. The p l a n ts form c l u m ps a foot hig h a n d a yard or more wide; a s o n e nears a slope where it is g rowin g , the h i l l ­ sicje appears t o b e covered b y patches of s n ow. The brow n i s h - tan fruits, dry when ripe, are densely s p i n ed o n d deciduous.

0. RUFIDA ( reddis h -brown , referri n g t o t h e g loch i d s) a lso kn own a s Bli n d Prickly Pear i n habits rocky desert h i l lsides a n d ridges at e levations of 1 900 to 3360 feet i n the States of Ch i h u a h u a and Coa h u i l a , Mexico, a n d the Big B e n d re­ gion of Texas. I t seldom grows more t h a n 20 m i les n orth of the Rio Gra nde. This 6-foot s h r u b deve lops a defin ite tru n k, and h a s large rou n d fl a t joints from 3 to 1 0

i n c h e s across. Their color varies from b l u e - g reen to g ray-green , a n d their s u rface i s ren dered d u l l by a coveri n g of h a i r . The s p i neless areoles are large and close together, fi l led by a co n s p i c u o u s h e m i s p h erical tuft of s h ort slender g lo c h i d s t h a t a re e a s i l y detached. Graz­ ing cattle re l i s h feed i n g o n the j o i n ts and the s m a l l fl e s h y brig h t r e d f r u i t of t h i s cactu s ; the g lo c h i d s rea d i l y pen etrate the eye a n d b l i n d t h e m .

23

( perta i n ­ i n g t o t h e b o s e , referri n g to the low spread i n g h a b i t of bra n ch i n g ) k n o w n as Beaver­ Toi l Cactus g rows o n s a n dy, g ravel ly, or rocky soils in or near the desert, mostly between sea level ond 4000 feel, rarely to 9000 feet e l evatio n . It ranges over N Son ora and S Cal iforn ia to S Neva da, S U ta h , a n d W Arizo n a . The Beaver·Ta i l is a varia b l e s p e c i e s t h a t f o r m s c l u m ps o n ly O P U N T I A BAS I LA R I S

24

6 to 1 2 i n c hes h i g h b u t up to 2 yards across . Typica l l y, the form of the s p i n e less j o i n t s is s u g gestive of a beave r ' s t a i l . T h e s u rface i s velvety, the are­ ales co n s picuous and de pres sed, full of tro u b lesome g l o c h id s . At m a t u rity the l - i n c h fruits are dry, tan or l i g h t g ray, f u l l o f nearly c i rc u l a r bone·w h ite or pale g ray seeds. Var. fre/easei is armed with spines o n joi n ts and fruit; var. aurea is yellow-flowered .

santa rita ( far t h e S a n t a Rita Mo u n ta i n s n e a r Tucso n , Arizo n a , i n the v i ­ ci n i ty of w h i c h i t was di scov­ ered ) P u r p l e Pri c k l y Pear, o n e of the m o s t o r n a m e n t a l of t h e O p u n ti a s , deve lops a tru n k a n d s o m e t i m e s beco m e s l a rge a n d tree - l i k e . I t g rows i n s a n d y o r grav el l y soi l s i n N Sonora , S Arizo n a , S New Mexico, a n d i n Texas W o f t h e Pecos River, a t e leva tio n s of 3 00 0 to 5 0 0 0 feet, a t t h e desert 's edge. 0. V I O LACEA var.

T h e nearly circ u l a r joints, 6 to 8 i n c h e s wide, are u s u a l ly s p i n e less. A few need l e - l i ke s p i n e s , 1 per creo l e , m a y oc­ cur o n the u pper m a rg i n of the pad, these are from 1 � to 2� inches l o n g . The r e d or red d i s h - p u r p l e fl e s h y f r u i t s are ova l , to 1 Y2 inches long. T h i s c a c t u s lives with i n n a r­ row e n v i ro n m e n t a l l i m i ts , a n d i s n o t tolera n t o f d ro u g h t o r o f too m u ch m o i s t u re.

25

OPUNTIA MACRO R H I ZA (Iorge

roots) Plains Prickly Pear, a c l u m p-for m i n g s pecies u s u a l l y only 3 to 5 i n ches h i g h but the c l u m ps to 6 feet wide, is com­ mon on the Great Plains gross­ l a n d s a n d t h e high plains of the West at e l evations of 2000 to 8000 feet , from E Cal ifornia to South Da kota. Although rare on the pra i ries, it occurs east­ word to S Mic h i g a n , W O h io, W Mi ssouri, W Arka n sas, a n d lou isiana, central a n d S Texas

26

and occurs across most of t h e northern p a r t o f Mexico. The m a i n ·root or roots are tuberous, but the roots put down by the prostrate j o i n ts are fibrous. The j o i n ts a re 2 to 4 i n ches long a n d 2 to 3 i n c h es wide. Most of the s p i n e s come from the upper a reoles, 1 to 6 per creole, need l e - l i k e u p to 2'/• i n c h es long, The purple or p u r p l i s h -red fruits, to 1 1h i n c h e s long, are fleshy and bear g lo c h i d s.

F I C U S -I N D I CA, I n d i a n Fig ; N a p a l de Casti l l a , t h ou g h t to be n a tive Ia Mexico, is fou n d a l l aver t h e tropics a n d very m i l d - te m perate pa rts of the world. I t h a s long been g rown for its f r u i ts a n d for fora ge. T h e p l a n ts are tree - l ike, to over 1 5 feet h i g h , with a fool· t h i c k tru n k 2 to 4 feet long. The fl e s h y oblong joints, 1 to 2 feet l o n g a n d 8 to 1 6 i n ches wide, m a y h ave no, a few, or many spines, d e pe n d i n g on

0.

w h ich of t h e many h o rtic u l tu r a l varieties or hybrids i s i n volved. All h a ve n u m erou s g lochids, t h a t drop off a s t h e joi n t a g e s . I t has escaped and runs wild a l o n g t h e Mediterra n e a n , t h e Red Sea, and i n Mexico and H a w a i i ; it h a s beco m e a n o x ­ i o u s weed i n S o u t h Africa a n d particu larly i n A u s tra l i a , w h ere cattle, s h eep, e m u s , a n d other a n i m a ls eat t h e f r u i t and s pread seed to over 1 ,000,000 n e w u n i n fested acres each year.

27

CEREUS, as interpreted by modern taxonomists, con­

tains an undetermined but large number of species ranging from California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and Florida southward into Chile and Argentina; six­ teen species are native or introduced and established as a part of the flora of the United States. Cereus is characterized by elongated ribbed stems which branch slightly to freely. Mature stems are from 15 to 100 times as long as their diameter, i.e., from 1 to 50 feet long, and from % inch to 2 Y2 feet in diameter. Ribs vary from 3 to more than 20, so that in cross-section the stems have prismatic to cylin­ drical outlines. The stems expand and contract as water is absorbed, stored, and used. Leaves are not produced on the new growth of mature stems, but do occur on seedling Cereus. The smooth straight needle-like spines, from 1 to many per areole, are usually between 1/16 of an inch to 3 inches long, but a few species have 8 - to 1 0-inch spines, the largest in the Cactus Family. Flowers are produced on the old growth of preced­ ing seasons, and therefore are below the growing apex of the stem or branch. Buds develop in felted areas at least within the edge of the spine-bearing part of the areoles, or merge into it. Most species have showy flowers, but they vary greatly in size; the majority are from 1 to 6 inches wide when fully open, but some have flowers a foot long and equally wide. In form the flowers are essentially tubular, but the part above the ovary is almost tubeless in some, funnel-form in others, long and trumpet-like in a few. At maturity the fruit is fleshy and often edible. Its skin may be with or without tubercles, scales, hairs, spines, or a combination of these. 28

C. N U D I FL O R U S ( n a ked-flow­ ered ) Flor de Copa ( Goblet­ Flower) is t h e most tree - l i ke Cere u s . O l d p l a n t s deve lop a t h i c k u prig h t cy l i n d rical tru n k with a solid wood core, s h eathed by fi n e - grained gray­ i s h - brown bark, w i t h d e n s e c l u s ters of s h a rp rigid s p i n e s i n t h e areoles. With age s o m e areoles d e v e l o p i n to ro u n ded k n o b s protr u d i n g from t h e bark. The m uc h - bra nched s pread ­ i n g crown reaches a heig h t o f

over 30 feel a n d is u s ually a s brood as t h e pla n t is lo l l . T h e bra n c h e s a r e m a d e u p of n u ­ m erous joints with 3 t o 5 w i n g s , a slender woody care, a n d l o w s c a l l o p s on t h e w i n g m a rg i n s. The birc h - scen ted flowers are noctu r n a l . T h e f r u i ts rese m b le avoca dos, and are t h e largest Cactu s fruits k n ow n . T h i s s pecies is com mo n o n t h e coasts o f C u b a a n d H i s ­ p a n i o l a , from H a v a n a Prov i n ce eastward .

29

C E R E U S JAMACA RU, M a n d a ­ c a r u , o s n a t i ve to the notorious " d ry polyg o n " of northeastern Brazi l, w h ere it often d o m i n ­ a t e s t h e l a n dscape a lo n g the coa st a n d i n the arid i n terior. Boa rds cut from i ts woody tru n k a re made i n to boxes, crates, and picture fra m es. The co u n try peo p l e use the wood a s cross - p i eces o n w h i c h t o lay the roof tiles. The d e n s e compact crow n of uprig h t bra nches reaches 30

30

feel i n height. Bra n c h es h ave 4 Ia 6 ribs ; w h e n yo u n g the ribs are thin, high, very b l u e i n calor, with w a v y m a rg i n s . O l d ste m s a n d bra n c h e s are covered with s p i n e s up to 8 i n c h es l o n g . The n octu r n a l flow­ ers, each a foot lang, are borne in profusion ; t h e brig h t r e d o v a l f r u i ts are estee m e d . The farmers p l a n t M a n d a ­ c a r u i n h e d g e s , a n d i n times o f dro u g h t c u t the bra nches to feed their livestock.

HEXAGO N US ( s ix - a n g led ) B l u e Cere u s , native Ia the I n dies West and southern northeastern South A m e rica , i s m u c h a d m ired a n d freq u e n tly p l a n ted i n doorya rds and parks w i t h i n its range. A l t h o u g h old p l a n ts are tree - l i ke and re­ ported to reach a l most 50 feet, a vera ge s peci m e n s are u s u a l ly less t h a n h a lf t h i s he i g ht , col­ u m n a r i n form , u s u a l ly bra n c h ­ i n g n e a r t h e b a s e from a s h ort woody tru n k .

C.

The branches, a d i s tinct b l u e - g ree n , are m a d e up of s h ort ribbed joints a b o u t 5 i n ches t h i c k , often h a ve 6 ribs, b u t t h e ribs va ry from 4 to 7 on i n d iv i d u a l joints. Yo u n g joints a r e s p i n e less or ca rry few very s h ort s p i n e s , b u t old bra n c h e s bear c l u s ters of u n ­ eq u a l s p i n e s t o 2'h i n c h e s long. The nocturn a l flowers, 8 to 1 0 i n ches l o n g, cover the p l a n t w h e n it bloo m s ; t h e pale red ova l fruits h a ve e d i b l e p u l p .

31

CEREUS REPA N D U S ( with wavy

margins, referri n g to the s i l o u ­ ette o f t h e bra n c h e s ) C o d u s h i , o f t h e a r i d p l a i n s of nort h ­ western Ve nezuela a n d t h e Neth erla n d s A n t i l les, forms thickets on Cu racao, w h ere it i s i m porta nt eco n o m i ca l l y. The strong woody tru n k , 1 2 to 1 6 i n c h es t h i ck, provides boards for m a k i n g s m a l l decora tive tables, c h ests, a n d c h a i rs . T h e co l u m n a r bra n c h e s reach to 3 5 feet, a re about 4 i n c h e s

32

thick, with 9 t o 1 2 ribs w h ich are i rreg u larly constricted and bear oreoles set w i t h c l u s ters of s p i n e s up to 2'12 i n c h e s l o n g . The fl e s h of t h e bra n c h e s is a staple food of C u racao, s o l d fresh or as d ry g ra n u l ar pow­ der. When added to boi l i n g water a n d cooked, i t form s a m u c i l a g i n o u s g reen so u p stock with a m i l d a s p a rag us fl a vor. The flesh i s a l so used as soa p ; it foa m s rea d i l y and d i s ­ solves g rease.

C. PERUVI A N U S ( of Peru , a m i s n o m e r ) Hedge Cactus, i s tho u g h t t o be n a tive t o U r u ­ g u ay, b u t i t h a s b e e n w i d e l y c u l tivated for s u c h a long t i m e t h a t its orig i n is i n dou bt. T y p ­ ica l l y co l u m n a r a n d u prig h t, de n s e l y bra n c h ed at or n e a r t h e b a s e , i n age it f o r m s a com pact crown to nearly 5 0 feet. Young bra n c h e s are 4 i n c h e s t h i c k w i t h 6 t o 8 fl a t r i b s , a l i g h t green, c h a n g i n g to b l u i s h g ray i n t h e second season. T h e

t i p s a r e covered w i t h brown felt i n term ixed with longer fl uffy stra n d s . M a t u re limbs are l i g h t g rayi s h - g re e n , to 8 i n c h e s t h i c k . Need l e-like s p i n e s to 1 Yo i n c h e s long a re in c l u sters of 5 to 1 0 per creole. T h e s l i g h t l y fragra n t noctur­ n a l flowers, 6 i n ch e s long, a re be l l - like, not ope n i n g w i d e . T h e f r u i ts are p a r t l y tu bercled. As is true of most Cere u s , bra n c h cutti n g s root rea d i ly a n d a r e used f o r hedges.

33

CEREUS

PECTEN-ABORIGI N U M

( abori g i n e ' s com b ) I n d ia n ' s Com b ; Hairbru s h Cactus, a tree­ like Mexican s pecies from the States of C h i h uah ua, Sonora, Co l i ma, a n d Baja Californ ia, forms a woody tru n k 3 to 6 feet h i g h a n d a foot t h i c k . Bran ches h a v e 1 0 ar 1 1 r i b s ; each r i b has a narrow g roove ru n n i n g dawn its outer edge i n w h i c h t h e areo les are seated. Flower- prod uci n g areo les are

34

fi l led with d e n s e redd i s h or brow n i s h wool and develop brow n i s h c u s h io n s co n n ected to t h e areoles below; other are ­ ales are fi l led w i t h gray wool. Spines are i n c l u sters of 8 to 1 2 , u s ual ly s h ort. The d i u rnal fl owers are o n l y 2 t o 3 i n c hes l o n g . T h e fru i t is covered by 5 - i n c h yel low bristles ; these dry f r u i ts are used by the native w o m e n of Baja Cal ifornia as c o m b s .

C. CHRYS O MALLUS ( golden fleece ) , n o l i v e to t h e sto les of Pueblo and O a x a c a , Mexico, is a c h a racteri stic p l a n t on t h e m e s a s a ro u n d Te h u ac6n . F u l ly­ g rown s peci m e n s a re m a ssive co l u m n a r tree- l i ke p l a n ts , t h e 6-foot tru n k a n d o l d e r bra n c h e s stout a n d w o o d y . O l d p l a n ts h ave com pact cy l i n drical crow n s over 5 0 feet h i g h a n d 1 6 feet wide, m a d e up of h u n d reds of erect ste m s .

The s te m s a r e g la u c o u s g r e e n i n c o l o r w i t h 1 1 to 1 4 ribs; t h e areoles are s t u d d e d a long t h e o u ter e d g e of t h e ribs. T h e r e are 1 2 s l e n der ra­ d i a l a n d 3 cen tra l s p i n es per c reole; o n e of t h e l a tter is very l o n g , to over 5 i n c h e s . The noctu r n a l flowers, born e n e a r t h e top of t h e s te m , a re often h i d d e n i n it. The f r u i ts m a t u re a n d b u rs t o p e n j u s t o n e m o n t h a f t e r floweri n g .

35

CEREUS

G I GANTEUS

Saguaro,

the

(gigantic)

State

Flower

of

Arizona.

high overhead, the whole cactus

From

the headwaters of the

Yaqui

River

in

nora,

the

Saguaro.

northward

southern

across

So­

ranges

the

Arizona

TO

weighing is

tons.

supported

12

by

This

weight

a cylinder of

or more woody rods extend­

ing

up

the

entire

stem,

side

and

out.

The

wood,

Desert and the upper edge of

pregnated with silicon,

the Colorado Desert to the be­

blunts woodworking tools.

ginning

of

the

Colorado

vations This

600

of

range

ern

California

rado

River,

from

in

the

the

Colo­

Whipple

Laguna Dam.

Saguaro

common

feet.

southeast­

n,ear

Mountains to the Large

3600

to

includes

forests

southern

Saguaros

Pla­

teau in central Arizona, at ele­

are

2

After

15

tall; at

40

by

TO

2

to

height,

the

slowly.

not

1

fool;

more

than

70

to

years and

times

first

a

man's

branch

buds

appear near the top. Plants usu­ ally

have

and

little

by no means continuously dis­

plants

tributed

old.

range.

60 3

feet. AI

from

very

years, barely

years,

Arizona

its

grow

im­

quickly

years, plants are '1•-inch

and Sonora, but the species is throughout

with

succulent tissue both to the in­

It is restricted to rocky or grav­

1

to

5

branches

rebranching.

1 50

are

Mature

200

to

years

In Arizona, flowering is from

elly soils of the hills, canyons,

late

and along desert washes. It sel­

are crowded in a wide circle of

dom

occurs

on

alluvial

soils,

up

April

through

300

to

just

buds

below

the

seemingly because these do not

branch

provide adequate anchorage for the plant. and

third of them develop fully. Flowers open in late evening and remain open until early

although the lateral roots radi­

afternoon of the next day. Self­

Saguaros

lack

taproots,

50

ate out for a distance of

60

feet,

they

lie

only

a

to

few

inches beneath the soil. Strong winds

are

weather

common

throughout

in its

sterile, they

but only about

a

are pollinated by

bees, white-winged doves, and nectar-drinking bats. The

rainy range,

tips,

June;

3

egg-shaped

inches

long,

fruits,

ripen

in

2

to

July;

and the rocky soils give better

the skin splits and curls back,

support

to

the

tons

of

exposing

swaying

in

the

wind

than

stem do

not

the

(Cereus pringlei

cacti

largest

of

of Mexico

is larger, and the largest

the

vivid

red

pulp.

Indians make a heavy

syrup and on intoxicating wine

rain-softened alluviums. Although

Papago

cac­

from them; their harvest marks the Papago New Year. Gila

woodpeckers

truly

stems; the raw surface callouses

50

pulp

of

the

the trunk

and grows corky, making a per­ fect jug. Pima Indians use these

feet

high,

upraised 0rms curving outward

36

soft

feet thick, the base of the

plants

21/,

awe-insporong

the

nest

holes

gigantic

in

dig

tus known), adult Saguaros are

for water-bottles.

( sy m ­ metric ) Pad re N u es tro ( O u r Fa­ t h er ) , i s a cam man cactus of the Mexica n table l a n d from San L u is Potosi to Oaxaca. M a ­ ture p l a n ts a re tree- l i ke, 1 5 feet h i gh , with a s h ort defi n i te tru n k and m u c h - bra nched sprea d i n g to p. The b l u i s h - g reen bra nches, 2 to 4 i n c h e s t h i c k , h a ve 5 or 6 rou n d e d ribs w i t h broad i n ter­ vals. They are g l a ucous, w i t h a brig h t b l u i s h - w h i te " bloo m " from t h e w a x y c u ticle t h a t pro-

CEREUS GEOM ETR I ZANS

38

!eels t h e m ; in w i n ter the color deepe n s to s m o ky violet. The areoles bear 5 s h ort r a d i a l s p i nes a n d one cen tra l d a g g e r ­ l i ke s p i n e one i n c h l o n g . Small m yrtle - l i k e diurnal fl owers, s l i g h tly over a n i n c h w i d e , a p p e a r sin g l y or i n two ' s f r o m the u pper part of t h e a reoles. T h e e d i b l e olive - l i k e fruits, ca l led Gora m b u l l os, ore sold i n t h e Mexican m a rkets ; they are eaten fres h , or d ried and used i n much t h e same way a s are ra i s i n s .

C. LANATUS ( wool l y ) Peruvian O l d Ma n ; Cotton B o l l , from t h e d r y A n d e a n u pl a n d s of s o u t h · ern Eq uador a n d n o r t h e r n Peru , h as two d i s t i n c t g rowth h abits : t h e p l an ts m a y be erect co l · u m n s t o 1 2 feet h i g h , some· t i m es with a few s i m p l e up­ r i g h t bra n c h es, qr t h ey are tree­ l i ke, with m an y 3 - foot hori­ zon tal bra n c h e s that curve u p ­ ward a n d become erect a t t h e stem t i p . Ste m s a n d bran c h e s h ave 2 0 low ro u n ded r i b s beari n g rows

of ra ther large areoles s p aced \4-inch apart. The areo les ca rry Iorge c l u sters of s h ort n e e d l e ­ l i k e ra d i al s p i n e s , a n d a s i n g l e cen tra l s p i n e u p to 2 i n c h e s l o n g . The areo les al so prod uce a b u n d a n t long w h i te h airs, com pletely h i d i n g t h e stem tips u n der a m a s s ive g rowth of wool and s p i n e s . Flowers, prod uced on one s i d e of t h e stem from a pseudo· cep h al i u m , a re a b o u t 2 i n c h e s w i d e . The s m a l l e d i b l e fruits are sweet and j u icy.

39

( for F. Ar­ t h u r Schott, p l a nt col l ector with t h e Mexica n Bo u ndary Su rvey ) Senita, grows in both h eavy a nd s a nd y soi ls i n Baja Cali· fornia a nd t h e Sonora n Deserts a t e l evations of 1 5 0 0 feet or less; its na tu ral range crosses the border i nto western Pima County, Arizona . Senitas a re trunkless, w i t h e long a ted co l u m nar branches mostly arising from near the base, in age form i ng colonies C E R E U S S C H O nl l

40

from 6 to 21 feet h i g h and u p t o 1 5 feet i n d i a m eter. Branches are about 5 i nc h e s t h ick, with 5 to 9 pro m i nent ribs. The areoles of young branches carry c l u sters of about 8 to 1 0 s h ort s to u t s p i nes with b u lbous bases, but when branc h es reach flowering age, each new c reole prod uces a tuft of 30 to 5 0 twisted bristle­ l i ke spines u p to 3 i nches long . T h e s m a l l nocturnal flowers e m i t a n evi l scent.

C. T H U R B E R ! ( for George T h u r ­ ber, 1821-1890, bota n i s t with the Mexica n Bou ndary Su rvey) Org a n -Pipe Cactus ; Pita haya, grows a t elevations of 1 000 to 3500 feet on the rocky a n d s a n d y h i l l s , mesas, a n d va l l eys i n the deserts of Ba ja Ca lifor­ nia and western Sonora, north­ ward to western Pima a n d southwestern Pi n a l Counties, Arizona. These a re large col u m n a r pla n ts 9 t o 2 0 feet h i g h a n d

6 t o 1 8 feet i n d i a m eter, with n u m erou s large u prig h t fl u ted bra n c h es arisi n g a t or near the base, rese m b l i n g org a n pipes. The stems, t o 8 i n ches thick wit h 12 to 19 low rou n ded ribs, carry n u m erou s n eed le-like h a lf-in c h spines a t t h e areoles. The 3 -i n ch n octu r n a l flowers may re m a i n open t h e next d ay. At m a t u ri ty the 3 -i n c h fruits are o l i ve-g ree n , covered by dense decid u o u s s p i n e s . 41

S EN I LI S ( w h ite - h a i red or o l d ) O l d - M a n C act u s . Seed­ l i ng O l d - M an Cacti are favored by cacto p h i les, but t h e i r growth is so slow ( between % and 1 i nc h a yea r ) t h a t m at u re speci­ m e ns ore seldom seen. Where native in t h e stales of G u ana ­ j u alo a nd H i d a l go, Mexico, t h ey cover the steep l i mestone s lopes of t h e river val leys with t h e i r to l l stately col u m ns . Large p l a nts, nearly 4 0 feel h i g h m u s t b e severa l h u ndred yea rs o l d . CEREUS

42

T h e s t e m s s e l d o m branch above ground leve l , but branch freely from t h e base w h e n o l d . The 2 0 to 3 0 r i b s bear closely­ set areoles fi l led w i t h wavy w h i te wool . W h e n 1 8 feel h i g h a nd fi r s t rea dy t o fl ower, a pse u d oce p h a l i u m of s p i r a l l y ­ arranged tu bercles rather t h a n r i b s a p pears at t h e s t e m t i p . From its areoles g row masses of dense lawny woo l , s h ort bristles, a nd the noctu rna l flow­ ers; fruit abo u t 1 i nc h long.

C. MACROSTI BAS ( l iteral ly, " big bed of straw " ( Gr. ) , probab l y referri n g to t h e e n ­ l a rged s p i n y areoles ) . T h i s u n­ u s u al s pecies i n h abits h i l l s i d e s on t h e edges of t h e Peruvian Coasta l Desert t h ro u g h o u t west­ ern Peru u n der con ditions of extre m e l y low rai n f al l . I ts mois­ t u re is largely provi ded by fog, dew, m ist, o r occas i o n al w i n te r drizz l e . I ts s u rrou n d i n g s are rocky an d barre n . In this e n ­ viro n m e n t growth is s low.

These are stocky erect col­ u m nar cacti with m an y basa l bran c h e s , 6 to 1 3 feet h i g h . T h e foot-thick s t e m s h ave 4 to 6 ribs separated by broad i n ­ terval s . The u n u s u al areoles, a bo u t an inch apart, e n l arge to inc h -wide s p h eres of brown felt, or, on old p l ants, m a y elongate t o o v e r 2 i n c h e s . O f t h e 1 2 or m ore s p i nes a t a n areole, o n e o r two leng t h e n u p to 1 0 i nc hes, a n d a r e t h e l o n g ­ est cac t u s s p i ne s known .

43

CEREUS A LAM O S E N S I S ( of Al­

amos, Sonora, wh ere first dis­ covered ) Cina, ranges from Nayarit northward through Sina loa Ia south ern Sonora, Mexico. Cina s are s lender col u m ns u p to a l most ' 1 0 feet h i g h b u t o n l y 3 inches t h i c k , with from 5 to 8 b l u ntly-ro u nded ribs. S m a l l areoles, spaced about an inch a part a long t h e ribs, carry from 1 1 to 18 s h arp spreading radial s pines a nd 1 to 4 m u c h

44

stouter centra l spine s with a length of 1 to 2 inches. As the plants g row ta l l , the stem c u rves or bend s over u ntil it tou ches the ground ; it then roots near t h e tip a nd forms new p l an ts . This h abit gives rise to l arge c l u s ters of C i n as same­ times 25 feet i n d i a meter. The d i u rna l t u b u l a r flowers vary from 2 to 4 i n ches long, an d open t h e i r peta l s o b l i q u e l y a t t h e th roat. T h e g l o b u l a r red fruit m e a s u res 2 Y2 i nches.

C . BAUMAN N I I ( for Charles and Consta n t i n e Ba u m a n n , Fren c h n u rserym e n ) Firecracker Cact u s ; Scarlet B u g ler, ra n g i n g from northern Arg e n t i n a i n to U r u g u ay, Para g uay, a n d s o u t h ­ eastern B o l i via, has been known and c u l tivated for mare than a century . The t h i n col u m n a r s te m s , o n l y 1 1-2 i n ch e s t h i c k , reach a h e i g h t af 6 feel; it someti m e s h a s a few s l e n der u prig h t bra n ches a t t h e base, para l le l

t o t h e m a i n ste m . T h e s t e m s h ave 1 2 to 1 6 low broa d ly­ rou n d ed ribs divided by deep g rooves. The closely s paced a reoles bear c l u s ters of 1 5 to 20 t h i n s h arp s p i n e s up to a n i n c h a n d a h a lf l o n g . The d i u rn a l flowers are zyg. omorphic, up to 3 i n c h e s l o n g , with a n S-s h a ped t u be that e n d s i n a slanting mouth. The peta l lips d o not open a u t ­ w a r d , b u t rem a i n poi n ted for­ ward. Blooms i n s u m mer.

45

C E R E U S L A M P R O C H L O R U S (green

torch), from northern Argenti n a , is s i m i lar i n habit to the t w o prece d i n g species , but is a m ore robust, stouter p l a n t, often u s e d as a rootstoc k for d e l i cate you n g s c i o n s . Its u p­ rig h t cyl i n d rical ste m s , 3 to 61h feet ta l l , a re 6 to 8 i n ches t h i c k , at f i rst u n b ra n c h ed, but later o n bra n c h i n g from t h e base. New g rowth i s b r i g h t gree n , con­ trasting s h ar p ly with the drab g reen alder g rowt h .

46

S t e m s have f r o m 1 0 to 1 7 low ribs t h a t are co n s p i c u o u s l y w a v y w h e n you n g , beco m i n g rou n ded a n d s m oother w i th age. The areo les, a b o u t % - i n c h a part, are a r m ed w i t h 1 1 to 1 4 s hort stra i g h t s h a r p - po i n ted rad i a l s p i n e s , some stro n g a n d rigi d , oth ers bristle- l i k e . T h e 4 central s p i n e s , to 3.4- i n c h l o n g , are somewhat stro n g er. The s h owy noctu r n a l flowers, to 1 0 i n c hes long and 6 i n c h es wide, are borne freely.

C. E R U C A ( to belc h ) C h i r i no l o ; Cree p i n g Devi l , craw l s over the w i n d - d rifted sand of t h e coastal p l ai n s of Baja Califor­ nia and M a g d a l e n a I s l a n d l i ke caterpi l lars. The mon stro u s stems, 3 to 9 f e e t long a n d 3 i n ches t h i c k , h u g t h e s a n d ex­ cept for t h e i r u praised heads. T h e stems root a l o n g the lower side, s lowly g row i n g forward as t h e o l d s t e m g ra d u ­ a l l y d i e s b e h i n d . W h e n a stem meets o n obstruction such a s

o l o g , rock, or fel low cact u s , i t raises i ts h e a d , g rows u p o n e s i d e a n d d o w n t h e oth er, a n d by d y i n g a t t h e r e a r l itera l l y b u t s lowly crosses t h e obstacle. These cacti ten d to grow i n groups a n d a r e s a n d b i n ders, p reve n t i n g erosion and accu m u ­ lating w i n d - b lown s a n d . Desert foxes d i g t h e i r b u rrows amo n g t h e form i d a b l e s p i n y stems. The a ttractive flowers, u p to 5 i n c h e s l o n g and 2 inches wide, are d i u rn a l .

47

CEREUS MARTI ANUS (for Karl F. P. von Marti us, 1 794- 1 868, Botany Professor ot M u n ich a n d fou nder of t h e Flora Brasi­ l i e n sis). This cactus of cen tral Mexico is a slender vi n e - l i ke plant that creeps aver t h e g rou n d , c l i m bs roc ks a n d trees, a n d a l so g rows as an e p i p h yte, h a n g i n g from the tru n ks a n d l i m bs of trees . Th e p l a n t sends aut aerial roots a l l along the ste m , serve for a n chorage a n d a d sorption .

48

T h e ste m s a r e occa s i o n a l l y bra n c h e d , about '!•- i n c h wide a n d several feet long , with 5 to 8 low rou nded ribs. Th e areoles , a b o u t 1h- i n c h opart, ca rry 6 to 10 short spi nes, needle- l i k e to m e re bristles. The t u b u l a r d i urnal flowers, 3 Ia 4 i n c h es l a n g , are pro­ d u ced profusely. I ndividual flowers o p e n e a r l y i n t h e morn­ i n g and re m a i n open severa l days. The s p i n y fruits a re %­ i n c h g l o b u l a r berries.

C. FLAG E LL I FORM I S ( w h i p - l i k e ) Rat-Ta i l Cactu s , is s i m i l a r i n growth h a b i t t o t h e prece d i n g s peci es, b u t i s better known . It h a s been c u l tivated t h rou g h ­ o u t Mexico, Centra l , a n d So u t h A m erica f o r its flowers, a p p a r ­ ently s i n ce pre-Col u m bi a n times, a n d i s not k n own i n t h e w i l d state. I t probably ori g i ­ n a ted i n Mexico. Yo u n g p l a n ts hold their ste m s u pward, b u t t h ey o r e weak a n d beco m e prostrate as

they elon g a te . T h e 1 0 to 1 2 low ribs a re s l i g h tly t u bercled ; t h e areoles, % - i n c h a p art, bear 8 to 1 2 ra d i a l and 3 or 4 ce n ­ tra l s p i n e s . T h e 3 -i n c h d i u r n a l flowers appear i n February and March ; i n d ivid u a l flowers stay open for 3 or 4 days. The 11:! - i n c h rou n d red bri s t l e - covered fruits h a ve yellow p u l p . Hybri d s w i t h o t h e r Cere u s h ave prod u ced m a n y f o r m s i n a variety of h u e s .

49

CEREUS E M O R Y I ( for l i e u t . - C o l .

W i l l i a m H . Emory, 1 8 1 1 - 1 8 8 7, in c h a rg e of t h e Mexican Bo u n da ry Su rvey ) Velvet Cac­ t u s , g rows a t e levatio n s of 200 feet or less o n sandy dry h i l l s a n d b l u ff s n e a r t h e coa st from Del M a r, San Diego Coun ty, s o u t h ward i n to C a l iforn i a , northwestern Baja C a l ifor n i a . I t i s co m mo n on S a n ta Cata l i n a a n d S a n C l e m e n te I s l a n d s . T h i s cact u s is a s h r u b w i t h s praw l i n g bra n c h e s covered b y

50

d e n s e clear yel low s p i n es t h a t hide the joints; i n age the spines blacken. I t m u ltiplies by s e n d i n g out bra n c h es f r o m b e ­ neath t h e s a n d , for m i n g colo­ n i e s severa l yards i n d i a m e ter. The cy l i n d rica l joi n ts are 1 to 2 feet l o n g a n d 1 V. to 2 i n c hes t h i c k , with 1 2 to 1 6 i n c o n s p i c u ­ o u s ribs. S p i n e s are c l u s tered 2 0 to 30 per creo l e ; the 2 - i n c h c h ief o n e b e n t backward, t h e others pointi n g i n a l l d i recti o n s . I t fl owers i n M a y .

C. S P E GAZZ I N I I ( for Carlos Spegazz i n i , 1 8 5 8 · 1 9 2 6 , Arg e n · t i n e bota n i s t ) i s n a tive to t h e s u b · tro pica l seaso n a l l y · a r i d C h a cos of northeastern Arg e n · t i n a a n d Parag u a y . T h e p l a n ts are erect w h e n yo u n g , b u t t h e s t e m s a n d bra n ch e s beg i n to b e n d or c u rve as they reac h severa l feet i n l e n g t h . T h e ste m s a re a b o u t a n i n c h w i d e , stro n g l y 3 · a n g led, w i t h toot h e d m a rg i n s ; t h e tips of t h e teeth bear the oreoles.

S p i n e s o n you n g bra n c h e s a r e brown or b l a c k , o n l y 3 to on oreole, b u t 3 more deve l o p i n t h e o r e o l e s o n the o l d e r p a r t s of t h e s t e m s . T h e g ray -g re e n fl o w e r b u d s a n d t h e o p e n flowers are h e l d r i g i d l y erect, b u t a f t e r closi n g t h e y t u r n a n d poi n t downward. As a pot- p l a n t, i t i s prized for its m a r b l e d stems. Free ­ bloom i n g , i t bea rs two or more crops of 4- to 5 - i n c h n octu r n a l flowers i n e a r l y s u m mer.

51

CEREUS CAVE N D I S H I I ( for W i l ­ l i a m G . S. Cave n d i s h , 1 7901 8 5 8 , 6 t h D u ke of Devon s h i re ) ranges from northern Arg e n t i n o a n d Parag u a y i n to Bra z i l ( Sao Pa u lo ) ; its northern l i m its are u n certa i n . T h e l o n g s l e n der cyl i n d rical ste m s , up to 1 0 feet l o n g and about a n inch wide, mostly bra n c h from n e a r t h e base a n d s praw l t o form a n open s prea d ­ i n g s h r u b , or c l a m ber over t h e s u rrou n d i n g vegetation t o form

52

th ickets. The 9 o r 1 0 ribs are low and ro u n d e d , with s m a l l areoles a b o u t % - i n c h a part and set with 8 to 1 2 n e e d l e ­ l i k e rad i a l s p i n e s a n d 1 to 3 central s p i n e s to 3A - i n c h l o n g . T h i s s pecies i s consid ered to be the most pro l i fi c bloomer of a l l cacti. The t u b u l a r fl owers, 4 to 5 i n ch e s long, open a t . n i g h t a n d a p pear a b u n d a n t ly from Apri l to Septe m ber. The 2 - i n c h p l u m p ro u n d red f r u i ts a re s p i n e less.

C. S E R PENTI N U S , S n a k e ar Ser­

pent Cactus, is a c o m m o n Mex­ ica n garden flower. A l t h o u g h fo u n d h a lf-w i l d i n hedges or r u n n i n g over a b a n doned w a l l s , i t is n a t k n o w n as a w i l d p l a n t . At fi rst a col u m n a r u prig h t c l u m p o f s te m s 3 feet h i g h , b u t later o n h a n g i n g or cree p i n g as i t e l o n g a tes t o 1 0 feet. U n ­ dergro u n d , i t forms a c l u ster o f large t u rn i p - l i ke tu bers a t t h e b a s e af t h e s te m s ; these are water and food - s torage org a n s .

The s i n u o u s s t e m s , 1 to 2 i n ches th ick, have 1 0 to 1 3 low ro u n ded ribs. T h e closely-set fe lted a reoles bear a b o u t 1 2 s p i n e s to 1 i n c h l o n g , varyi n g from need l e - l i k e to bristles. A prof u s i o n of 6 - i n c h noc­ turnal flowers a p pear i n May and J u n e , and emit t h e most delicious perf u m e af all cacti. Fru its set free l y ; t h e y ripen to 1 Y2- i n c h red ova ls covered by deci d u o u s s p i n e s . T h e p u l p is red, seeds few b u t l a rg e .

53

( for H ei n ­ rich Poselger, d i e d 1 8 8 3 , Ger­ m a n cactalog i s t ) Saca s i l , i n ­ habits s e m i - d esert s c r u b a n d bru s h l a n d s af southern Texas near the Ria Gra n de, and of the sta les of Ta m a u l i p a s , N u evo Leo n , a n d Coa h u i l a i n northeastern Mexico. Fram a c l u ster of t u bero u s roots n e a r t h e s u rface of the soi l i t s e n d s u p t h i n ro u n d ste m s a l i t t l e thicker t h a n a lead pencil a n d up Ia 2 feel

CEREUS POSELGERI

54

long. The stems and bra n ches are thin and s p i n eless at t h e b a s e , th icker towards t h e tip a n d h i d d e n by t h e s p i n e s flat­ tened against it. A com m o n p l a n t b u t h a rd to fi n d, a s i t g rows u n der scru b a n d rests i ts stems i n t h e lower bra n ch e s . The d i u r n a l 1 'h - i n c h flowers appear from Febru ary to Apri l . They o p e n a b o u t n o o n a n d c l o s e a t n i g h t, e a c h o n e ope n ­ i n g a n d closing i n t h i s way for severa l days.

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