BOOKS BY FRANCES BONKER AND JOHN JAMES THORNBER THE SAGE OF THE DESERT DESERT FLOWERS THE FANTASTIC CLAN Copyright, 1932, By THE MACMILLAN COMPANY. All rights reserved—no part of this book may be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the publisher, except by a reviewer who wishes to quote brief passages in connection with a review written for inclusion in magazine or newspaper. Set up and electrotyped. Published February, 1932 PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA NORWOOD PRESS LINOTYPE, INC. NORWOOD, MASS., U.S.A. To the Memory of My Father JAMES THORNBER A Seeker After the Odd and the Beautiful in Nature J. J. T. To My Aunt LIDA PLANT TRUMBULL A Collector of Rare and Unique Specimens of the Weird Fantastic Clan F. B. [Illustration: MEXICAN NIGHT BLOOMING CEREUS; REINA DE NOCHE; SERPENT CACTUS (Cereus serpentinus)] THE FANTASTIC CLAN. _THE CACTUS FAMILY._ Studies of that unique and fascinating growth, the Cactus plant, treating of all the most important groups of Cacti known, with scientific accuracy, and depicting the charm of the desert land, its magic spell and wondrous lure, in the great Cactus area of the world, the American desert of the Southwest. [Illustration: ] _By_ JOHN JAMES THORNBER, A.M., Professor of Botany, University of Arizona _and_ FRANCES BONKER. THE MACMILLAN COMPANY NEW YORK MDCCCCXXXII PREFACE