Cactaceae Ferocactus cylindraceus var. cylindraceus

California Barrelcactus

Cahuilla - Food, Beverage

Use documented by:
Bean, Lowell John and Katherine Siva Saubel, 1972, Temalpakh (From the Earth); Cahuilla Indian Knowledge and Usage of Plants, Banning, CA. Malki Museum Press, page 67

View all documented uses for Ferocactus cylindraceus var. cylindraceus

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Scientific name: Ferocactus cylindraceus var. cylindraceus
USDA symbol: FECYC (View details at USDA PLANTS site)
Common names: California Barrelcactus
Family: Cactaceae
Family (APG): Cactaceae
Native American Tribe: Cahuilla
Use category: Food
Use sub-category: Beverage
Notes: Plant used to obtain water. The barrel cactus provided a desert reservoir, one which had long been familiar to many desert travelers at times of emergency. To obtain water, the top of the cactus was sliced off, a portion of the pulp was removed to create a depression and then the pulp was squeezed by hand in the depression until water was released from the spongy mass.

RECRD: 11419 id: 14724

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