| Barrel Cactus | |
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This young barrel cactus, Ferocactus cylindraceus, grows on a steep gneiss slope high above the roadway in the central part of the park. The dark rock wall behind it shows the typical tight layering of gneiss. The rock's color is due to desert varnish.
This plant is intricately colored and thickly studded with wicked spines, but from a distance it looks cute and cuddly. Thanks to Desert USA for its great resource on desert plants including this one.
(c) Copyright 2002 Andrew Alden, licensed to About.com, Inc.
