Plant Name:  Barrel Cactus

Botanical Name:  Echinocactus grusonii
‍
Native Name:  Kupash
‍
Height/Physical Description:  Slow growth to 4 feet tall and 2.5 feet wide.  Cylindrical in shape, green body covered with stiff, sharp bright yellow thorns.  Yellow flowers grow in a circle on top of plant in Spring as the plant matures.  
‍
Use:  Food and water source:  The flowers are followed by fruits that are edible.
‍
Water Source:   The barrel cactus was used as a water source when in dire need of water while traveling. The top of the plant was sliced off, the middle of the plant scooped out to make a reservoir, then the spongy mass that was removed squeezed and the resulting liquid emptied into the reservoir to drink and quench thirst.
‍
Harvesting:  The flower buds that bloom in the Spring were removed and cleaned of spines.
‍
Preparation:  The flower buds were parboiled to remove bitterness.  After parboiling, they were dried or roasted then eaten.