Tian ying
Mexicans love cactus, and there are cactus patterns on the national flag and national emblem. There are cactus sculptures in Socarro Square in Mexico City. Mexicans beautify the environment with cactus, which is a delicacy in life.
Mexico is a paradise for cacti, with many varieties and colors. When I went to Mexico, I experienced cactus. Accompanying us to visit the pyramid of the sun and the Moon Pyramid is Mr. Ronnie of Mexican Minmetals Company. The car passed a section of expressway, and there were many cacti on both sides of the road.
"This is a natural cactus park with a wide variety."
Mr. Ronnie told us.
We came to the park to watch. Walking along the road signs, you are greeted with colorful cacti: some leaves are like round barbed knives and axes; Some blades are like long-handled barbed daggers; Some have red flowers, others have yellow, white and purple flowers; Some fruits are full of fruits ... What's more interesting is that there are several "giant cacti" in the garden, which are more than 10 meters high and have dozens of forks, standing in the sky with plump leaves and overlapping. "Oh, this is the' longevity star' in the garden, which has been around for three or four hundred years." Mr. Ronnie pointed to the "giant cactus" and said. We stood among the cacti with great interest and took photos as a souvenir.
Then, Mr. Ronnie accompanied us to a restaurant in the garden, which was a unique house built with cactus leaves. The shopkeeper served a cold dish with cactus leaves. When he looked carefully, it turned out to be made of cactus leaves peeled, pricked and seasoned. It tastes crisp and refreshing. Then serve a plate of cactus fruit, peel it and eat it. The juice is delicious. Then, another dish of cactus preserves, sweet and sour. There is also a glass of soda made of cactus juice on the table. The staple food is tortillas that Mexicans like.
"What an interesting cactus dinner!" I slipped it out.
"In our Mexican eyes, cactus is a kind of treasure. Cactus is rich in vitamin B, vitamin C, potassium, salt, calcium, phosphorus, sulfate, oxalate and so on. , is an indispensable nutrition for the human body. Therefore, the tender leaves and fruits of cactus have become our favorite food. " Mr. Ronnie introduced it with great interest.
"Cactus is a good helper for farmers. Mexico is a mountainous plateau country with low rainfall and high temperature, and the dry land accounts for about half of the land area. Cactus has long and many roots and thick leaves, which can absorb a lot of water. Farmers put it on the ridge of the field, which plays the role of water storage and moisture conservation, and can also prevent soil erosion, and rhizosphere bacteria can fertilize the soil. In some places, farmers use cactus to store water to solve the drinking water problem. It is said that a kilogram of fresh cactus can evaporate a person's water for a day, and the water quality is pure and there is no pollution. Cochineal insects on cactus can be used as red dye, and dried cactus can be used as fuel and building materials. In addition, cactus can also be used as a medicinal material. " Mr. Ronnie talked and talked.
During my stay in Mexico, I also heard many legends about cactus, which made me know more about why Mexicans like cactus.
The legend about cactus is still circulating everywhere. There is a legend about Mexico City. It is said that the local Aztecs were inspired by God: if they settled in the place where the eagle stood on the cactus with a snake in its mouth, this nation would surely prosper. Later, they came to a blue saltwater lake. There is a green cactus on a brown rock in the lake. Sure enough, an eagle was parked on the cactus with a twisted snake in its mouth. So they settled there, built castles and later developed into Mexico City. The predecessor of Mexico City is TeNociti Tran City, which means "cactus with eagle" in Nava language spoken by Aztecs. The full name of the capital is Mexico-tenochtitlan, and Mexico is derived from the Navajo word "Mexitri" (son of the sun and the moon).
Mexican cactus, very cute, very cute.