Claret Cup, the Mis-named Cactus?

 

Echinocereus triglochidiatus, the claret cup cactus, is the state cactus of Colorado. Yes, since 2014. And here you thought the Legislature just debates wolves and higher taxes-I-mean-fees.

More botanical info here, including a typical dispute over subspecies. 

But let's talk about wine instead. "Claret" is a largely British umbrella term for dry red wines from the Bordeaux region of France, which is probably short on cactus.

Click to embiggen.

 

As this Google Ngram shows, use of the term "claret" in books fell off fast in the 20th century, although it's still heard conversationally in the UK, I know.

Maybe some fussy American wine merchants, wine judges, etc. still use "claret." I don't hang out with that crowd so cannot say for sure.

The grapes used in "claret" include those favorites Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Malbec, among others.  

Really, to Americanize the name, we should be calling it "California Fruit-Bomb Cabernet Cup." 

"Cab Cup" for  short.  

Everything Picturesque about the Upland Southwest

Yellow-blossom cholla cactus, dead Gambel oak, one-seed juniper, barbed wire, old sun-baked tires, pile of rusty tin cans. If it can stab you, it will.

And in the air, the overpowering smell of musk mustard, only slightly sweeter than skunk spray. 

Back home, M. was out picking some wild greens to put in our supper. I suggested musk mustard — all the very best foraging blogs recommend it.

"I don't care what the foraging blogs say," she replied. "It makes me nauseous."

So we get lambsquarter instead. 

Musk mustard, Chorispora tenella, a/k/a purple mustard.

What do the foraging blogs say? Things like this:

There are very few greens tasty enough to make an entire salad out of; musk mustard is one of those greens. Lightly dressed with a drizzle of oil & vinegar and a few crumbles of goat cheese…it’s the perfect salad. If you listened to the National Park Service and cattle ranchers, you’d think musk mustard was a noxious weed. And you’d be missing out on an easy-to-identify, plentiful wild edible.

Or  this:

Among the plants I observed and collected on this trip, wild mustards made a strong showing. These are often overlooked or passed over for sexier wild fare, but wild mustards are plentiful and accessible throughout Denver area right now—making them a good choice for a late April, early May foray. 

No quelites wars at our house, though. I picked some prickly lettuce, which is a little bitter on the line of dandelions, but not more than some of the greens sold in stores.