Barrel Cactus When you
imagine a desert, what do you think of first? Maybe
it's sand, heat, or Gila monsters, but most likely
it's cactus. Cacti are probably the most memorable
characteristic of the desert. In all of the Speedy
Gonzales cartoons, Speedy is always leading his
unsuspecting predators into a cactus. And what is
in the background as Wily Coyote accidentally blows
himself up with Acme dynamite? Cacti of
course! American
deserts is the barrel cactus. The Barrel cactus can
be easily distinguished from other cacti Like many plants of the world, this cactus has numerous uses. Native Americans who lived in the desert found the barrel cactus very useful. In the vast untamed land and scorching heat, you couldn't really hop in your air-conditioned car and cruise down to the local A&P. The Native Americans had to look hard to find food. The barrel cactus provided some very important provisions for them. They stewed the Barrel Cactus to make a cabbage-like food. They got water to drink from the pulp and they made fish hooks from the spines, which are pointed at the end. The pulp is also made into "cactus candy". The Barrel cactus is found in the Mojave, Sonora, and the Chihuahua deserts. These deserts are found in the land of Speedy and the Roadrunner: Baja, Arizona, California, Texas, and Central Mexico. The barrel cactus grows in the desert washes and slopes, but can also be spotted growing along canyon walls. The barrel cactus is my favorite of all the cacti because it is very beautiful, but can really make you sore if you step too close. So keep an eye out for this cactus if you're anywhere in the vicinity of the southwest part of America. Just think, if you are ever stuck in the desert, you know what plant to boil for dinner. Simone M. 2000.
bibliography: Posell, Elsa. New True Book: Deserts. Chicago, IL: The Children's Press. 1982 Taylor, Barbare. Desert Life. New York, NY: DK Publishing Inc. 1992 "Desert Plants and Wildflowers." http://www.desertusa.com (6/6/00)
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