Barrel Cactus Picture

But for some of us, houseplants are the furthest thing from our minds when mention is made of "barrel cactus." If you watched Westerns as a kid, you probably recall seeing a thirsty cowboy slice off the top of a barrel cactus to get at the liquid stored inside. It's not just fiction: some species of Echinocactus barrel cacti do contain a reasonably palatable fluid (or so I am told) that is potable in an emergency.