11. Basketgrass (_Nolina erumpens_). Although referred to as a grass, this plant belong to the lily family. The narrow, fibrous grasslike leaves often attain a length of 5 feet, making them excellent material for native basketry. The compact clusters of small pinkish-white flowers rarely rise above the rank mass of foliage. 12. Geological Explanation. This rock is called conglomerate, because it is formed from many kinds of rocks from many places. Note the rounded shapes of the individual stones, caused by wearing away of the sharp corners and edges when they were being transported by streams millions of years ago. Later these materials were deposited in beds and under the terrific pressure of overlying masses of sediments were compacted with mineral cementing materials to form the solid mass which you see here. 13. Drooping Juniper (_Juniperus flaccida_). Appearing to be slightly wilted, the drooping aspects of this graceful evergreen suggests grief. Botanists claim that Big Bend National Park is the only area in the United States in which it is found. [Illustration: _Drooping Juniper_] CACTUS GARDEN 14. Lechuguilla (_Agave lechuguilla_) (pronounced lay-choo-GHEE-yuh) is a small species of agave whose leaf crown somewhat resembles a bunch of green bananas, and does not belong to the cactus family. The plant is so well protected by its spine-tipped leaves that even hungry goats refrain from eating it. The fibers within the fleshy leaves are used extensively in northern Mexico for making brushes, matting, coarse twine and rope. The short stem is used as a substitute for soap. 15. Claretcup Echinocereus (_Echinocereus triglochidiatus_). This is one of the commonest and most spectacular of our hedgehog cactuses. Occasionally, plants will have as many as 50 salmon-colored blossoms open at the same time. [Illustration: _Desert vegetation and Chisos Mountains as seen from the east._] 16. Engelmann Pricklypear (_Opuntia engelmanni_) is one of the desert’s most useful plants. Its fruits may be eaten raw and delicious jams and jellies may be made from them. When young and tender, the young joints are called “nopalitas” (no-pahl-EE-tahs), and are cooked and eaten. Ranchmen burn off the spines to supply hungry cattle with food when the range is poor. In the lower elevations of the park a lovely purple-colored species is found, known as purple-tinge cactus. 17. Strawberry Cactus (_Echinocereus stramineus_) has one of the desert’s tastiest fruits. When ripe, the fruit resembles a strawberry in texture and is delicious served with cream. The blossom is a deep red and is one of the park’s gems of floral beauty. Large numbers of these dome-shaped plant mounds may be observed along the highways throughout the park.