  14. Lechuguilla (Agave lechuguilla) (pronounced lay-choo-GHEE-yuh) is a small species of agave whose leaf crown somewhat resembles a bunch of green bananas, and does not belong to the cactus family. The plant is so well protected by its spine-tipped leaves that even hungry goats refrain from eating it. The fibers within the fleshy leaves are used extensively in northern Mexico for making brushes, matting, coarse twine and rope. The short stem is used as a substitute for soap. 15. Claretcup Echinocereus (Echinocereus triglochidiatus). This is one of the commonest and most spectacular of our hedgehog cactuses. Occasionally, plants will have as many as 50 salmon-colored blossoms open at the same time. Desert vegetation and Chisos Mountains as seen from the east. 16. Engelmann Pricklypear (Opuntia engelmanni) is one of the desert’s most useful plants. Its fruits may be eaten raw and delicious jams and jellies may be made from them. When young and tender, the young joints are called “nopalitas” (no-pahl-EE-tahs), and are cooked and eaten. Ranchmen burn off the spines to supply hungry cattle with food when the range is poor. In the lower elevations of the park a lovely purple-colored species is found, known as purple-tinge cactus. 17. Strawberry Cactus (Echinocereus stramineus) has one of the desert’s tastiest fruits. When ripe, the fruit resembles a strawberry in texture and is delicious served with cream. The blossom is a deep red and is one of the park’s gems of floral beauty. Large numbers of these dome-shaped plant mounds may be observed along the highways throughout the park. 18. Brownpitaya (Echinocereus chloranthus) is one of the so-called rainbow cactus group. Notice the banded color separation of the short needles. The small brown flowers grow around the plant in large numbers during the bloom period. Another variety, which grows at low elevations in the park, has yellow-orange blossoms reaching a diameter of 4 inches. 19. Mountain-Mahogany (Cercocarpus eximius). The wood is extremely hard, so brittle that it may be broken very easily. Deer browse on the leaves, and, outside the park, cattle and sheep feed upon it. 20. Lichen. Raise your eyes to the exposed barren escarpments of Casa Grande and other rock outcroppings. Here you observe greens, blacks, and other colors. Much of this color may be attributed to the lichens (LYK-ehnz) encrusting the bare rock surfaces. The small colorful organisms are the first visible signs of life to gain a foothold on rocks. Without true roots, this little “mutual” obtains moisture from the atmosphere. A lichen is actually a fungus and an alga living together in mutual dependence (one provides board and the other room for both). As a product of their life processes, carbonic acid is formed. This slowly disintegrates the rock, helping to form soil, thus aiding in the production of suitable living conditions for higher types of plants. 21. Ash (Fraxinus sp.). Ash has long been identified as a very useful wood; even the early Indians utilized it for paddles, bows, arrows, etc. The winged seed resembles a small canoe paddle. 22. One-Seed Juniper (Juniperus monosperma). There are four junipers found in the park. (You have already seen two of the others along this trail.) This one is so named because it has but one seed in each berry. Junipers (often miscalled cedars) are distinguished from other cone-bearers by the seeds being enclosed in a berry instead of a cone. The wood is resistant to decay and used much for posts. Of course, in a National Park, trees are preserved for their scenic and watershed protection value and are not harvested for commercial purposes. 23. Another picture just ahead—Striking view of Juniper Canyon. Help Protect the Park from FIRE |
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