FOOD RESOURCE COLLEGE OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SCIENCES, OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY
ECHINOCACTUS WISLIZENI
Hedrick, U.P. editor. 1919. Sturtevant's Notes on Edible Plants. Report of the New York Agricultural Experiment Station for the Year 1919 II. Albany, J.B Lyon Company, State Printers. [References Available]
is a plant of Western North America. This cactus is called by the Mexicans visnada, or bizancha. The seeds are small and black and when parched and pulverized, make good gruel and even bread. The pulp of th fruit is rather sour and is not much eaten. Travellers, in passing through the cactus wastes, often resort to this plant to quench their thirst, its interior containing a soft, white, watery substance of slightly acid taste, which is rather pleasant when chewed. Pieces of this, soaked in a sirup or sugar and dried, are as good as candied citron, which they resemble in taste and substancEchinocactus This plant, in some of its prepareations, furnishes a favorite food to the yabapais and Apache Indians of Arizona.
