The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1912-10-19


orally conveys the idea of large sand
plains devoid OF all plant growth to those who
have them. But this is quite wrong
impression. for there is hardly a square mile
anywhere in Seriland where some kind of tree or
cactus cannot be found though there may not be
any water for miles around. This fact makes the
botany Of this region a most interesting study.
for II the vegetation were not provided with spe-
cal means of obtaining and storing water. 1t
could not survive. All the trees and plants are
perennials and have enormously long roots. The
mesquite tree tProsopis julifora) and the palo-
verde (Parkinsona torreyana) are the most com
mon, and the former bears kind OF fruit or
bean which the Indians grind into l re-
member when travelling in the "Malpais" OF
Sonora l obliged to rely for whole month
on these mesquite beans alone to feed my horses
and pack animals. for grass is practically absent
on. these plains except for very coarse variety
called 'galleta' by the natives. which is
times found in small patches. 1t says much for
the nutritive value OF the mesquite bean that
lost none of my animals and only one mule
seemed to be suffering towards the end OF the
time. Most OF the low-lying country is covered
with the Sonoran grease-wood (Larrea triden-
tata) a small green bush of value at all; but
it is ubiquitous throughout Sonora, except in the
mountains. But the really characteristic plant
in Serland is the cactus, which abounds in
variety of forms They all have very long roots
of which descend thirty feet to fifty feet
to reach water. The stem itself is formed OF
pulp that grows round a wooden core and this
storehouse for the water they obtain
while they are covered with kind of glazed
epidermis to prevent evaporation and are fur.
nished with thorns. which efectually prevent
animals from feeding on them. The "saguarro"
giant castus (Cereus giganteus) is the most
imposing rising often to height of fifty sixty
feet. 1t may be in vast numbers over the
plains and on the lower part of the mountain
slopes, and 1t assumes endless variety of
shapes. ranging from the single straight stem to
when they in flower, for at the end of each
those containing fifteen or twenty arms. To
those who them for the first time they GER
they in flower, for at the end of each branch
they bear wreath or crown of fragrant yellow
purple flowers No less unusual are the
organp pige cactus, "pithahaya' (Cereus shot
t). They grow in clumps of eighteen or twenty
stems and reach a height Of fifteen feet to
twenty feet. A cactus Is the bisnaga a
smaller form OF the saguarro; but it has one De-
cuar quality which makes 1t very valuable both
to the Indians and to travellers in the country
for 1t is the only plant from which water fit to
drink may be obtained The best way is to cut
of the top and to crush the pulp within with a
piece OF wood stone. Two to four pints of
water then be scooped out with a cup the
amount depending the size Of the plant Ex.
cept for rather sickly taste. the water is not
unpleasant.
There is another unusual plant also found in
this region-the "ocotillo" (Fouquiera splen.
dens). This remarkable shrub. which sometimes
attains height OF fifteen feet, is composed of
a number of long thin branches covered with
thorns and bears the most brilliant scarlet
flowers
Once each year. Just after the short summer
rains the country wakes from its long drought
to a belated spring. Gay-colored flowers nod
among the rocks. and the cactus blossoms relieve
the otherwise somber landscape. But this change
in the face Of the country is as transient as it is