Cactus

The first sign you are entering Oatman Canyon is the sudden appearance of various sizes of prickly appearing vegetation. The largest is over seventeen feet high and the shortest is no bigger than a pincushion. Some have out thrusting spears that appear to be arms upraised in surrender, some have so many prickles that just looking at it makes the viewer take an involuntary step back. The ranchers say that these are not native to the area but were brought by travelers from distant lands. There are ten known types of cacti, but there is always a chance that a new species might evolve.


The tallest of the cacti is the Green Giant. They range from ten to twenty feet high, are green, and have anywhere from one to five out thrusting spears that point to the sky like arms. They can retain moisture and for those brave enough to approach and cut out a section of the flesh of the cactus, they can eat it for the water stored inside.

The Mousetrap is a small pincushion cactus that prefers the slight shade of rocks and other cacti. Small rodents are attracted to the smell of the flowers from this cactus which then attracts the Purgatory Sidewinder. Be very wary when approaching a group of these cacti as you have no idea what might be in hiding around them.

The cactus with the beautiful yellow flowers with a smell that hints at cinnamon during the dry season is called the Cliff Daisy because of the beautiful yellow flowers. These are fairly numerous in the region and many of the ranchers consider it good luck to have them around their house.

The Honey Azolla has white flowers during the dry season that smell reminiscent of honeysuckle. These are also abundant in the region and the sheep love to eat the flowers. Chickens have been known to peck through the skin of the cactus to get at the moist flesh within

The knee-high cactus is called a Needlepoint Cactus due to the use by the ranchers and townsfolk of the spines as needles. They cannot be harvested year-round, but only during the dry season. It is a chore for some of the youth and a money-making opportunity for others.

The Caballo Diablo has small burr-like projections that can be broken off of the plant and used by merry tricksters in a variety of pranks by tossing them inside bedrolls, under horse blankets or inside a boot. All ranchers are careful to flip their boots upside down before putting on to empty out any Oatman Crawlers or the Diablo burrs.

Fairy Dreams is very pretty and appears in a variety of pastel colors; lilac, rose, or pale yellow. It has flowers that appear to smell differently to each person. However, not every person has been able to recall the exact scent. It is rare in this area but is noticeable as it is around human height.

Astute observers will notice that certain species will swarm around the Rook Nest cactus. The cactus is sturdy enough with a large barrel size to provide nesting space for a large variety of avian creatures. It does not have any flowers and the spines/needles are a deterrent for many predators, but they are spaced perfectly for many species to roost comfortably.

The Salty Dog provides for nature's requirement of salt for all living creatures. It is a treat for the Suslik and their burrows tend to have at least one within range of an entrance

The Sarsaparilla cactus is considered a lucky find as the juice from this cactus is used to make the favorite drink of the local tavern: The Ginger Bliss. The flower of this cactus has a distinctive ginger aroma and the needles tend to be soft and pliable and easy to brush out of the way to allow for easy access to the flesh of the cactus. The more experienced and knowledgeable know how to tap and harvest the juice for sale or to make their own homebrew.