The mystic mid-region, the deserts of the Southwest . om two to five feet hiorh and has abulbous root two or more inches in thicknesswhich is an excellent substitute for soap —hence its name. The leaves are from one totwo and one half feet in length, and from aninch to an inch and a half in thickness. Theplant flowers in July and August, the blossomsopening in the afternoon only. The bulb ofthe plant lies deep in the earth and has thepower of storing moisture, in time of rain, forthe long, dry months which follow. As previously stated, the numbers of thecactus family to be found in various por
The mystic mid-region, the deserts of the Southwest . om two to five feet hiorh and has abulbous root two or more inches in thicknesswhich is an excellent substitute for soap —hence its name. The leaves are from one totwo and one half feet in length, and from aninch to an inch and a half in thickness. Theplant flowers in July and August, the blossomsopening in the afternoon only. The bulb ofthe plant lies deep in the earth and has thepower of storing moisture, in time of rain, forthe long, dry months which follow. As previously stated, the numbers of thecactus family to be found in various portionsof the desert are almost innumerable. Ina three-days journey through the southerndesert, taken early in May, the writer notedforty-two different varieties of cacti in ranged from the delicate bloom of tinyplants to the gorgeous blossoms of the giantspecies, thirty, forty, and even fifty feet inheight. It was a most memorable trip. At no otherseason of the year does the desert present sogay an appearance as in May and early 4 I From photograph by C. C. Pierce iV Cu. the well of the DESERT 51 Curious Desert Plants 53 Blossoms, white, pink, )(j11o\v, purple, and scar-let, are to be seen on all sides, till one loses theidea that he is in the desert and almost dreamsthat he is in some wonderful o-arden. Butthere are no sparkling fountains and grassylawns to complete the illusion ; only the thornyshrubs with their vivid blossoms and the scorch-ing sands, the dust, the thirst, and the cloud-less sky above. A very common species of cactus is the nopalor prickly-pear, the fruit of which is known asthe tuna, and wdiich is much prized both byIndians and by Mexicans. A welcome plant to the desert traveler isthe bisnaga, or well of the desert. This isa cyclindrical-shaped green plant thickly cov-ered with sharp spines. By cutting out thecenter of the plant, a bowl is formed whichquickly fills WMth water of an excellent quality,affording a palatable drink to the t
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, booksubjectdeserts, bookyear1904
