The Collaborative International Dictionary
barrel cactus \bar"rel cac"tus\ (b[a^]r"r[e^]l k[a^]k"t[u^]s), n.; pl. barrel cacti (b[a^]r"r[e^]l k[a^]k"t[imac]). any of several large cacti native to the southwestern U. S. and Mexico, having a short cylindrical form with deep vertical ribs and bearing sharp spines. They are classed in the genera Ferocactus and Echinocactus.
Usage examples of "barrel cacti".
In a nearby dried-up watercourse there were barrel cacti, whose juice was drinkable.
Rocks were hot to the touch and small barrel cacti poked their round heads up where they were least expected.
Outside is a dry but not unpleasant landscape of red rocks, broom sage, desert flowers that look a bit like sego lilies, stunted pines, and a few barrel cacti.
Here a barely visible fork led off to a brush-mottled talus slope dotted with barrel cacti.