Mountains of Chihuahua. Fl. June-July.
Specimens examined: Chihuahua (Wislizenus of 1846): also specimens cultivated in St. Louis in 1848, 1850, 1854.
45. Cactus radians. (DC.) Kuntze, Rev. Gen. Pl. 261 (1891).
Mamillaria radians DC. Rev. Cact. 111 (1829).Mamillaria pectinata Engelm Syn. Cact. 266 (1856).
Globose, 3.5 to 7.5 cm. in diameter, simple: tubercles conical, from a 4-angled base, lower ones short (4 to 6 mm.), upper flower-bearing ones longer (10 to 12 mm.), terete and grooved: radial spines 16 to 24, somewhat recurved from a bulbous compressed base, stiff and pectinate, horny or whitish (at length ashy), interwoven with adjacent clusters, those on lower tubercles about equal (6 to 10 mm.), on flower-bearing tubercles elongated, mixed with a few stouter ones and fasciculated (lower ones 10 to 12 mm. long, upper ones 12 to 18 mm. long and forming an apical tuft); centrals none: flowers over 5 cm. long and about 6 to 7.5 cm. in diameter when expanded, bright sulphur-yellow: fruit ovate and green, about 12 mm. long: seeds compressed, brownish smooth and shining, 1.8 mm. long. (Ill. Cact. Mex. Bound. t. 11) Type unknown; that of M. pectinata Engelm. is the Wright material in Herb. Mo. Bot. Gard.
Extending from the hills along the Lower Pecos to El Paso, southwestern Texas, southward through Coahuila and San Luis Potosi to southern Mexico.
Specimens examined: Texas (Wright 226 of 1849, also of 1852; Evans of 1891): Coahuila (Palmer of 1880; Mrs. Nickels): San Luis Potosi (Parry & Palmer 265; Eschanzier of 1891): also specimens cultivated in St. Louis in 1853; in Mo. Bot. Gard. in 1892; and in Harv. Bot Gard.
Even in the absence of the type I have ventured to refer Mamillaria pectinata Engelm. to this species. Dr. Engelmann had concluded that the two were "not sufficiently distinct," and the examination of Mexican forms which pass as C. radians abundantly confirms this conclusion. Besides, every character in the original description of C. radians applies exactly to these Mexican plants and to our Texan specimens as well. Aside from the fact that the Mexican specimens are apt to be more robust, I can discover no difference whatever. For discussion of relationships see under C. scolymoides.
46. Cactus radians pectenoides, var. nov.
Differs in its cespitose habit, fewer (16 or 17) and stouter spines (8 to 9 mm. long), and its larger and longer (10 mm.) less deeply grooved tubercles. Type in Herb. Coulter.
San Luis Potosi.
Specimens examined: San Luis Potosi (Eschanzier of 1891).
47. Cactus corniferus (DC.) Kuntze, Rev. Gen Pl. 260 (1891).
Mamillaria cornifera DC. Rev. Cact. 111 (1829).Mamillaria impexicoma Lem. Hort. Monov. Cult. 5 (1839).Mamillaria cornifera impexicoma Salm. Cact. Hort. Dyck.20 (1850).
Globose, 7.5 cm. in diameter, simple: tubercles oblong-ovate, 2 cm long, crowded, the younger axils woolly: radial spines 15 to 26, rigid and horny, curved or sometimes straight, reflexed, bulbous at base, yellowish (whiter with age) and with dark tips, very sharp, 10 to 12 mm, long; the central one much stouter, darker, slightly deflexed, 12 to 16 mm long, sometimes wanting: flower unknown: fruit obovate, red, 2 cm long: seeds reddish, angular, smooth, 2 mm. long. Type unknown.
From San Luis Potosi to southern Mexico.
Specimens examined: San Luis Potosi (Parry of 1879; Eschanzier of 1891): also specimens cultivated in Mo. Bot. Gard. in 1892; growing in same garden in 1893. Mamillaria impexicoma Lem., afterwards reduced to a variety, was based upon fewer radial spines and no central. As the central is occasionally wanting in connection with the most numerous radials, and present with the fewest, such a form would have to be separated solely on the absence of the central spine, and even in the original description of impexicoma the central spine is only said to be "sometimes wanting." It has been impossible for me to separate the forms. It should be said that the fruit and seed characters given above were taken front a specimen whose few radials and no centrals would undoubtedly refer it to impexicoma. As yet we are ignorant of the flower of C. corniferus. For discussion of relationships see under C. scolymoides.
++ Central spines 1 to 4.
48. Cactus scolymoides (Scheidw.) Kuntze. Rev. Gen. Pl. 261 (1891).
Mamillaria scolymoides Scheidw Allg. Gart. Zeit. ix. 44(1841).
Globose or ovate, 5 to 7.5 cm. high. subsimple: tubercles conical, 10 to 16 mm. long, the upper elongated, incurved and imbricate: radial spines 14 to 20, straight or often recurved, white or horny, 10 to 20 mm. long (the upper the longer); central spines 1 to 4, longer (18 to 32 mm.), more dusky, curved, the upper ones turned upwards and intermixed with the radials, the lower one stouter, longer, and curved downwards: flowers 5 cm. long: fruit unknown. Type unknown.
From the Pecos River, western Texas, westward into southern NewMexico, and southward into Chihuahua and San Luis Potosi.
Specimens examined: Texas (Hays of 1858): New Mexico (Bigelow of 1853): Chihuahua (Wislizenus of 1846): also specimens cultivated in St. Louis in 1858.
Specimens collected by Mrs. Anna B Nickels across the Rio Grande from Laredo, Texas, and showing neither flower nor fruit, seem to intergrade between C. scolymoides and C. scolymoides sulcatus. The habit is that of the former, the tubercles are those of the latter, while the spines are somewhat different from either. The number of central spines in these specimens is very hard to determine, as on the adult tubercle they all assume a radial position. The usual adult arrangement is an apparent absence of central spines; 10 to 12 rigid, spreading and more or less recurved radials (increasing in length from the lowest), which are mostly white or the upper more or less dusky; and above, just behind the radial row, 2 or 3 stout recurved-ascending spines, which are white with tips more or less reddish-black, one of the spines usually much stouter and longer than the others. This form may represent a distinct species, but it seems very unsafe to add species to the C. scolymoides group without the fullest information.
Prince Salm-Dyck refers C. scolymoides to "M. daimonoceras Lem. Cact. gen. nov., p. 5," but no mention of such a name can be found in the work referred to. Labouret refers C. corniferus to the same name and reference. If "M. daimonoceras" was anything more than a garden or herbarium name used by Lemaire I have been unable to find it, and Dr. Engelmann's notes indicate that his search met with the same result. It is possible that the name was applied loosely to this assemblage of closely related forms that seem to cluster about C. corniferus.
A most perplexing question of relationship is presented by the forms that have been called pectinatus, scolymoides, sulcatus (calcaratus), Echinus, and the Mexican forms radians, impexicomus, corniferus. It may be that they are all merely varieties of one strong polymorphic type, but our knowledge of corniferus is so incomplete, and material of other forms is so scanty, that I can not venture to make such an assertion. However, it seems probable that radians, pectinatus, scolymoides, sulcatus and Echinus all have green fruit, while in impexicomus and corniferus it is red. It has also seemed proper to merge radians and pectinatus, also impexicomus and corniferus, and to refer sulcatus to scolymoides as a variety. These seven forms are thus reduced at least to four species.
49. Cactus scolymoides sulcatus (Engelm.).
Mamillaria sulcata Engelm. Pl. Lindh. 246 (1845), not Pfeiff.(1848).Mamillaria strobiliformis Muhlenpf. Allg. Gart. Zeit. xvi. 19(1848), not Scheer (1850).Mamillaria calcarata Engelm. Pl. Lindh. 195 (1850).Cactus calcaratus Kuntze, Rev. Gen. Pl. 259 (1891).
Differs in its smaller size; proliferous and much more cespitose habit, the dilated base of the more spreading tubercles, fewer (8 to 12) radial spines, usually a single central spine (wanting in young plants) and somewhat larger flowers. (Ill. Cact. Mex. Bound. t. 74. fig. 1, seeds) Type, Lindheimer of 1844 in Herb. Mo. Bot. Gard.
Texas, from the Brazos to the Nueces.
Specimens examined: Texas (Lindheimer of 1844; Fendler 34; Wright of 1850, 1854, 1857): also specimens cultivated in St. Louis in 1845, 1848, 1853, 1859.
This seems to represent the northeastern extension of the species, and doubtless it will be found merging into it south and west of the Nueces. Curiously enough one of the prominent distinctions originally given was the single central spine, while in the type specimen there occur tubercles with more than one central.
50. Cactus echinus (Engelm.) Kuntze, Rev. Gen. Pl. 260 (1891).
Mamillaria echinus Engelm. Syn. Cact. 267 (1856).
Globose or subconical, 3.5 to 6.5 cm. in diameter, simple: tubercles terete, conical, grooved above, 10 to 12 mm. long: radial spines 16 to 30, pectinate, straight or little curved, rigid and appressed (interwoven with neighboring clusters), ashy-white (often dusky at apex), 8 to 12 mm. long, the uppermost longer (12 to 20 mm.); central spines 3 or 4, the upper ones turned upward and intermixed with the radials, the lower one very stout, 15 mm. long, subulate from a very thick bulbous base, straight (rarely slightly curved) and porrect (deciduous in old specimens): flowers 3 to 5 cm. long: fruit oval, elongated, about 2 cm. long, green: seeds elongated-obovate. brown and smooth, about 1.8 mm. long. (Ill. Cact. Mex. Bound. t. 10) Type, the Wright and Bigelow specimens in Herb. Mo. Bot. Gard.
On limestone hills, from the Pecos River, southwestern Texas, and southern New Mexico, westward to the Rio Grande (from Presidio del Norte northward). Fl. June.
Specimens examined: Texas (Wright of 1849, 1851, 1852; Bigelow of 1852; Engelmann, with no number or date; Evans of 1891).
The characteristic appearance of the plant is given by the very stout and straight central spine standing in each cluster perpendicular to the plant body. The range of this species, between the Pecos and the upper Rio Grande, suggests another separated group, such as is presented by C. scolymoides sulcatus to the east, between the Brazos and Nueces. Very frequently specimens of C. echinus occur in which some of the tubercles do not develop central spines, and then the spine characters resemble those of C. radians. In C. radians, also, an occasional porrect central spine is found. These intergrading forms I have only seen in Mexican material. For discussion of relationships see under C. scolymoides.
** Flowers red.+ Central spine solitary or sometimes wanting.
51. Cactus dasyacanthus (Engelm.) Kuntze, Rev. Gen. Pl. 259(1891).
Mamillaria dasyacantha Engelm. Syn. Cact. 268 (1856).
Subglobose, 3.5 to 6.5 cm. high, simple: tubercles slender and terete, spreading, lightly grooved even to the base, 8 to 10 mm, long: radial spines 30 to 50, mostly in two series, straight and loosely spreading, the exterior ones (25 to 35) capillary and white, 6 to 18 mm. long, the interior ones (7 to 13) stiffer (setaceous), longer and darker and black-tipped; the central spine straight and porrect, 12 to 20 mm. long, often wanting: flowers small, red: fruit ovate, small (8 to 10 mm. long?): seeds globose-angled, almost black, pitted, 0.8 to 1.2 mm. long (Ill. Cact. Mex. Bound. t. 12. figs. 17-22) Type, Wright 110 in Herb. Mo. Bot Gard.
From Eagle Pass, Texas, westward to El Paso and southern NewMexico, and southward into Chihuahua.
Specimens examined: Texas (Wright 110 of 1852): New Mexico (Vasey of 1881; Mearns of 1892, in Big Hatchet Mountains) Chihuahua (Pringle 251 of 1885, in part).
Pringle 251 as distributed to Nat. Herb. is C. tuberculosus.
52. Cactus maculatus, sp. nov.
Obovate-cylindrical, 6 by 8 cm., somewhat cespitose: tubercles ovate, terete, 10 mm. long, grooved to the base, with naked axils: radial spines 10 or 11, straight and spreading, rigid, blackish (becoming ashy with age), black-tipped, 12 mm. long; central spine large, more or less spotted, erect, 25 to 35 mm. long: flower 13 mm. long, pinkish: fruit unknown. Type in Herb. Coulter.
San Luis Potosi.
Specimens examined: San Luis Potosi (Eschanzier of 1891).
Somewhat resembles C. tuberculosus in general appearance, but very different in spine characters.
53. Cactus brunneus, sp. nov.
Obovate-cylindrical, 3 by 6 cm., simple: tubercles ovate, grooved to the base, 5 to 6 mm. long, with woolly axils: radial spines 11 to 15, spreading, rather rigid and brownish (lighter with age), 8 to 10 mm. long; central spine much larger, 20 mm, long, hooked: flower and fruit unknown. Type in Herb. Coulter.
San Luis Potosi.
Specimens examined: San Luis Potosi (Eschanzier of 1891).
++ Central spines 3 to 12.
54. Cactus conoideus (DC.) Kuntze, Rev. Gen. Pl. 260 (1891).
Mamillaria conoidea DC. Rev. Cact. 112 (1829).Mamillaria strobiliformis Engelm. Wisliz. Rep. 113 (1848), notScheer (1850).
Ovate-conical, 3.5 to 10 cm. high, 4 to 7 cm. in diameter below, with densely woolly vertex, simple: tubercles conical, about 12 mm, long, closely appressed-imbricate ("giving the plant the appearance of a pineapple or cone"): radial spines 10 to 16, ashy to white, straight and stout, 6 to 10 mm. long, the upper longer (10 to 15 mm.); central spines 3 to 5, stouter, brownish-black, 10 to 16 mm. long, the two or three smaller ones erect-spreading, the single lower one more rigid, porrect or deflexed, 15 to 20 mm. long: flowers 2 to 3 cm long and wide, deep purple: fruit unknown. (Ill. DC. Mem. Cact. t. 2) Type unknown.
On rocks, Coahuila and Nuevo Leon to San Luis Potosi and southernMexico.
Specimens examined: Coahuila (Palmer 378 of 1882; Pringle 3117 of 1890): Nuevo Leon (Wislizenus of 1847): San Luis Potosi (Poselger of 1851; Eschanzier of 1891).
55. Cactus potsii (Scheer) Kuntze, Rev. Gen. Pl. 261 (1891).
Mamillaria potsii Scheer in Salm Cact. Hort. Dyck. 104 (1850).
Cylindrical, 30 to 35 cm. high, 2.5 to 3 cm. in diameter, somewhat branching: tubercles ovate, obtuse, very lightly sulcate, with somewhat woolly axils: radial spines very numerous (entirely covering the whole plant), slender and white; central spines 6 to 12, stouter from a broad base: flowers large, green, or reddish: fruit red. Type unknown.
From the Rio Grande region, near Laredo, Texas, to Chihuahua.
Specimens examined: Texas (Poselger of 1851): Chihuahua (specimens from Coll. Salm-Dyck.).
56. Cactus tuberculosus (Engelm.) Kuntze, Rev. Gen. Pl. 261 (1891).
Mamillaria strobiliformis Scheer in Salm Cact. Hort. Dyck. 104(1850), not Muhlenpf. (1848), nor Engelm. (1848).Mamillaria tuberculosa Engelm. Syn. Cact. 268 (1856).
Ovate to cylindrical, 5 to 15 cm. high, 2.5 to 5 cm. in diameter, simple or branching at base: tubercles short-ovate from a broad base, 5 to 6 mm. long, deeply grooved, crowded and imbricate, at length covering the older parts as naked and gray corky protuberances: radial spines 20 to 30, slender but stiff, white, radiant and interwoven with adjacent clusters, 4 to 8 mm. long (uppermost rarely 10 to 12 mm.); central spines 5 to 9, stouter, purplish above, the upper ones longer, erect, 10 to 14 mm. long (sometimes even 16 to 18 mm.), the lower one shorter (6 to 8 mm.), stout, porrect or deflexed: flowers about 2.5 cm. in diameter, pale purple: fruit oval, elongated (sometimes almost cylindric), red, about 18 mm. long: seeds subglobose, brown and pitted, very small (0.8 to 1.2 mm. long). (Ill. Cact. Mex. Bound. t. 12. figs. 1-16) Type of Scheer's strobiliformis is unknown; but the specimens of Prince Salm-Dyck in Herb. Mo. Bot. Gard. are marked "authentic" by Dr. Engelmann. The Wright specimens in the same Herb, represent the type of M tuberculosa Engelm.
From the mountains of extreme southwestern Texas (common west ofDevil's River), southward into Chihuahua and Coahuila. Fl.May-June.
Specimens examined: Texas (Wright 18, 19, 20, 23, 24, 29, 30,31,32, 535, of 1849 and 1852; Bigelow of 1852; Engelmann, with no number or date; Evans of 1891): Chihuahua (Pringle 250, 251 in part, and 258 of 1885): Coahuila (Palmer of 1880): also specimens from Coll. Salm. Dyck in 1857; also growing in Mo Bot. Gard. 1893 (specimens, sent by G. G. Briggs in 1892 from El Paso, Texas.
The identification of Engelmann's tuberculosa with Scheer's strobiliformis was made by Dr. Engelmann himself upon an examination of Scheer's type. The use of the specific name tuberculosa is necessitated by the law of homonyms, as strobiliformis had been used twice already before it was taken up by Scheer. M. strobiliformis Muhlenpf. is C. scolymoides sulcatus; and M. strobiliformis Engelm. is C. conoideus.
57. Cactus viviparus Nutt. in Fraser's Cat. (1813).
Mamillaria vivipara Haw. Syn. Succ. Suppl. 72 (1819).
Low and depressed-globose, usually proliferous and cespitose (forming large masses), but sometimes simple: tubercles terete and loose, lightly grooved: radial spines 12 to 20, stiff and white, often dark-tipped, 6 to 8 mm. long; central spines usually 4 (sometimes less, often more, even as many as 8), brownish, 8 to 12 mm. long, 3 spreading upwards, the lowest stouter and shorter and deflexed: flowers about 3.5 cm. long (large for the size of the plant) and even broader when expanded, bright purple: stigmas pointed with a short mucro: fruit oval, pale green, juicy, 12 to 18 mm. long: seeds yellowish-brown, obliquely obovate and curved about the small hilum, 1.4 to 1.6 mm. long). (Ill. Cact. Mex. Bound. t. 74. fig. 3, seeds) Type unknown.
On the northwestern plains, from the boundary provinces of British America (western Manitoba, Assiniboia and Alberta), and throughout the Upper Missouri region, southward through western Nebraska to western Kansas and to the eastern foothills of central Colorado. It is also mentioned by Howell (Cat. of Oregon, Washington and Idaho plants), as occurring beyond the Rocky Mountain divide in Idaho and Washington, which is probable, but no specimens have been seen.
Specimens examined: Montana (Hayden, nos. 1854, 1855; Vernon Bailey of 1890, near Bridger): Colorado (Hayden of 1869): Nebraska (Rydberg 1379 of 1893, Thomas Co.): also specimens cultivated in St. Louis in 1869; also growing in Mo. Bot. Gard. 1893.
It seems best to keep this northwestern form specifically separate from that large assemblage of southern forms that have been commonly referred to it. The forms referred to this species from western Kansas (Smyth's check list) have not been examined, and they may represent intermediate forms, inclining to simple habit and ovate form, as in the Colorado forms. The southern type (C. radiosus) is distinguished from C. viviparus not only by its very different range, but also by its ovate to cylindrical form, simple habit, more numerous (12 to 40) and longer (6 to 22 mm.) radial spines, usually more numerous (3 to 14) central spines in which the upper are more robust than the lower, porrect lower central, obtuse stigmas, and brown obovate straight seeds.
58. Cactus radiosus (Engelm.).
Mamillaria vivipara Engelm. Pl. Fendl. 49 (1849), not Haw.(1819).Mamillaria radiosa Engelm. Pl. Lindh. 196 (1850).Mamillaria vivipara radiosa texana Engelm. Syn. Cact. 269(1856).
Ovate or cylindrical, 5 to 12.5 cm. high and about 5 cm. in diameter, simple or sparingly proliferous: tubercles terete, more or less grooved above, 8 to 12 mm. long: radial spines 20 to 30, straight, slender, with with dusky apex, very unequal, 6 to 8 mm long; central spines 4 or 5, stouter, yellowish or tawny, 8 to 12 mm. long, the upper ones the longer and more robust, the lowest one shorter and porrect: flowers 3.5 to 5.5 cm. long, about the same diameter when fully open, violet to dark purple: stigmas 7 to 9, obtuse: fruit oval and green: seeds yellowish or brown, obovate, pitted, fully 2 mm, long. (Ill. Cact. Mex. Bound. t. 74, fig.5, seeds) Type, Lindheimer of 1846 in Herb. Mo. Bot. Gard.
Extending across southern Texas, from the Guadalupe to El Paso. thence into contiguous New Mexico and across the Rio Grande near Juarez (northern Chihuahua). Fl. May-June.
Specimens examined: Texas (Lindheimer of 1846): New Mexico (Bigelow of 1855): Chihuahua, near Juarez (Evans of 1891): also specimens cultivated from the type in St. Louis in 1846.
Attention has been called under C. viviparus to the characters that distinguish from C. radiosus The characters there given for the latter species apply to to the whole group of included forms. The type of the species is the var. Texana of Engelmann's Syn. Cact. and Mex. Bound., which is characterized in the above. description.
59. Cactus radiosus neo-mexicanus (Engelm.).
Mamillaria vivipara radiosa neo-mexicana Engelm. Syn. Cact. 269 (1856).
Generally lower (3.5 to 10 cm.) and subglobose to ovate or even sub-cylindrical, branching at base or simple, with more numerous (12 to 40) radial spines, more numerous (3 to 12) and purplish centrals, and smaller seeds. (Ill. Cact. Mex. Bound. t. 74. fig. 4, seeds) Type, presumably the Wright, Bigelow, and Schott specimens from western Texas, New Mexico, and Sonora, all in Herb. Mo. Bot. Gard.
From southern Utah, central Colorado, and western Kansas, southward through western Texas, New Mexico and Arizona into Chihuahua and Sonora.
Specimens examined: Kansas (Carleton 530 of 1891, in MeadeCounty): Oklahoma (Carleton 233 of 1891): Colorado (Hall andHarbour of 1862; Brandegee 645 of 1873; Hicks of 1890): Utah(Siler of 1870): New Mexico (Wislizenus of 1846; Fendler 244,271, of 1847: Wright 298; Bigelow of 1853; G. R. Vasey of 1881):Texas (Wright of 1849, 1851, 1852; Bigelow of 1853): Arizona(Rothrock, with no number or date): Sonora (Schott of 1855):Chihuahua (Evans of 1891, near Juarez).
It is through this variety that C. radiosus approaches most nearly to C. viviparus, in the forms with few radials and centrals, but the specific characters seem to hold. This is the Mamillaria vivipara of the Syn Fl. Colorado (Porter and Coulter).
60. Cactus radiosus arizonicus (Engelm.).
Mamillaria arizonica Engelm Bot. Calif. i. 244 (1876).
A robust globose or ovate simple form (7.5 to 10 cm. in diameter), with long (12 to 25 mm.) deeply-grooved tubercles, 15 to 20 long (10 to 30 mm.) rigid whitish radial spines, and 3 to 6 centrals deep brown above. Type, the specimens of Cous, Palmer, Bischoff and Johnson, all in Herb. Mo. Bot. Gard.
Sandy and rocky soil from southern Utah through northern and western Arizona to southern California.
Specimens examined: Arizona (Cous of 1865; Cous & Palmer of 1865 and 1872; Palmer of 1869; Bischoff of 1871; Miller of 1881; Rusby 617 of 1853; Pringle of 1884): Utah (Johnson of 1871, 1872, 1874; Parry of 1875, 1877): California (Parish of 1880): also specimens cultivated in Mo. Bot. Gard. in 1881; and in Meehan's Gard. in 1882.
61. Cactus radiosus deserti (Engelm.).
Mamillaria deserti Engelm. Bot. Calif. ii. 449 (1880).
Subglobose or oval (5 to 10 cm. high) and simple, with deeply grooved tubercles (slender and about 12 mm. long), 25 to 30 rather long (10 to 16 mm.) grayish white radial spines (the larger with reddish tips), 3 or 4 shorter and stouter centrals with 5 or 6 intermediate ones above, small (2.5 cm. long) straw-colored flowers (becoming purplish-tipped), 5 or 6 stigmas, and obliquely obovate curved seeds. Type, Parish 433 in Herb. Mo. Bot. Gard.
In the mountains bordering the deserts of southeastern California(San Bernardino County) and extending to central Nevada (ReeseRiver Valley).
Specimens examined: California (Parish 453 of 1880, also of 1882;Bailey of 1890): Nevada, Lincoln County (Coville & Funston of1891, Death Valley Expedition): also specimens cultivated inMeehan's Gard. in 1882.
The smaller straw-colored flowers alone suggest the propriety of keeping this form specifically distinct, but even in size and color there is an occasional tendency toward the specific character. The obliquely obovate curved seeds resemble those of C. viviparus. The plant densely covered with stout ashy-gray interlocking spines is easily recognized.
62. Cactus radiosus chloranthus (Engelm.).
Mamillaria chlorantha Engelm. Wheeler's Rep. 127 (1878).
Oval to cylindrical (7.5 cm. in diameter, sometimes 20 to 22.5 cm. high), with 20 to 25 gray radial spines almost in two series, 6 to 9 stouter reddish or brownish-tipped centrals (12 to 25 mm. long), and yellowish or greenish-yellow flowers 3.5 cm. long and wide. Type: Southern Utah specimens of both Parry and Johnson occur in Herb. Mo. Bot. Gard., but they are all referred to C. radiosus arizonicus, and I can find no trace of any specimens of C. radiosus chloranthus in the Engelmann collection.
Southern Utah, east of St. George (Parry; Johnson).
The plant is evidently near C. radiosus deserti, of which variety it seems to be the Utah representative, but in the absence not only of the type, but even of authentic specimens, the two are kept separate, a thing fully justified by the description.
63. Cactus radiosus alversoni, var. nov.
Differs from var. deserti in its more robust and branching habit (becoming 12.5 cm. tall and 10 cm. in diameter), shorter and thicker tubercles, more numerous (12 to 14 centrals) stouter and longer (12 to 22 mm.) spines, all of which are black-tipped (the centrals black half way down, shading into red), and pink flowers. Type, Alverson's specimens in Herb. Mo. Bot. Gard. and in Herb. Coulter.
In the desert region of extreme southeastern California.
Specimens examined: Southern California (A. H. Alverson of 1892): also growing in Mo. Bot. Gard. 1893.
The covering of stout bushy interlocking spines is like that of var. deserti, but the black and reddish coloration gives a decidedly different appearance. On account of this appearance of a reddish-black brush the plant has been popularly called "foxtail cactus." The decidedly pink flowers were sent by Mr. S. B. Parish from specimens growing in cultivation in San Diego, and are not from the original collection of Mr. Alverson.
64. Cactus macromeris (Engelm.) Kuntze Rev. Gen. Pl. 260 (1891).
Mamillaria macromeris Engelm. Wisliz. Rep. 13 (1848).Mamillaria heteromorpha Scheer in Salm. Cact. Hort. Dyck. 128(1850).Mamillaria dactylithele Labouret, Monogr. Cact. 146 (1858).
Ovate or cylindrical, 5 to 10 cm. high, simple or branching from the base and at length cespitose: tubercles large, loose and spreading, from a dilated base, more or less elongated (12 to 30 mm.) and teretish (often incurved), the groove absent in young plants and never reaching the axil: radial spines 10 to 17, slender and terete, or stouter and often angled, spreading, 12 to 40 mm. long, whitish (or more or less rose-colored when young), straight or a little curved; central spines 4 (or fewer in young plants or even wanting), spreading, 25 to 55 mm. long, stouter, bulbous at base, mostly black (the lowest the longest and stoutest), straight or sometimes curved or twisted: flowers 6 to 7.5 cm. long and of same diameter, deep red to purple: fruit ovate-subglobose, green, 15 to 25 mm, long: seeds globose-obovate, yellow, and smooth. 1.2 to 1.6 mm. long. (Ill. Cact. Mex. Bound. t. 14 and 15) Type, Wislizenus of 1846 in Herb. Mo. Bot. Gard.
Mostly in loose sand, in the valley of the Rio Grande (on both sides of the river), from southern New Mexico to Eagle Pass, Texas, and doubtless further down.
Specimens examined: New Mexico (Wislizenus of 1846; Wright 384, 531, of 1852; G. R. Vasey of 1881): Texas (Wright of 1850, 1851, 1852; Bigelow of 1852): Chihuahua (Evans of 1891; Budd of 1891): also growing in Mo. Bot. Gard. 1893.
This species shows an interesting transition from Coryphantha to Echinocactus. The woolly groove of the Coryphantha extends from the spine-bearing areola to the axil of the tubercle, where it expands into the flower-bearing areola. In C. macromeris the groove extends only about half way down the tubercle and gives origin to the flower-bearing areola on the side of the tubercle; while in Echinocactus the flower-bearing areola becomes adjacent to the spine-bearing areola and the flower appears at the summit of the tubercle.
It seems impossible to make a simple artificial key that will serve as a useful guide to each individual species and variety. Our knowledge of so many of the species is imperfect, that no set of characters can be applied throughout. However, as no plants are collected in such fragmentary condition, it will be useful to construct a key based upon such characters as are always likely to be present, even if specific distinctions are not always reached. In many cases, species are so closely and differently related to each other that the complete descriptions will have to be consulted to determine the differences, and in such cases the artificial key can only indicate the group. Even the full descriptions are very compact, all characters not necessary for discrimination having been eliminated. No attempt need be made to determine any species by means of the flowers alone. In most cases more or less of the plant body will be available, presenting spine and tubercle characters, and these are used in the following key. The distinction between Eumamillaria and Coryphantha, on the basis of grooveless and grooved tubercles should always be made out easily. It may be useful to suggest as a caution, however, that often tubercles in drying develop folds which simulate grooves, and especially is this true in quadrangular tubercles. In such cases it is necessary to restore the original plumpness of the tubercle by boiling, before the presence or absence of the groove can be definitely determined. The species and varieties are indicated only by their specific or varietal names in the following key, and the numbers refer to the serial numbers of the synoptical presentation. Forms occurring within the United States are marked with an "*":
I. Tubercles never grooved.
* Central spines none.
Radials 5 to 9, stout.meiacanthus* (7).
Radials 20 to 40.micromeris* (12), greggii (13).
Radials 40 to 80.lasiacanthus* (10), denudatus* (11).
** Central spine solitary and not hooked.
+ Central spine longer than the radials.
Radials 7 or 8: tubercles very long (40 to 50 mm.).longimamma (36).
Radials 15 to 20: tubercles 6 to 8 mm. long.eschanzieri (21).
++ Central spine shorter than the radials.
Radials 5 to 9, stout.meiacanthus* (7).
Radials 9 to 22.heyderi* (5), hemisphaericus* (6), gummiferus (8), gabbii(34),sphaericus (35).
*** Central spine solitary and hooked.
+ Stems slender cylindric: Lower Californian.
Centrals 1, 20 to 30 mm. long.roseanus (23).
Centrals 1 to 4, 20 to 50 mm. long.setispinus (24).
++ Stems depressed-globose to ovate.
Radials 4 to 6, rigid.uncinatus (9).
Radials 8 to 12.wrightii* (15).
Radials 15 to 30.grahami* (19), eschanzieri (21).
Radials 50 to 60.barbatus (18).
**** Central spines more than one, and none of them hooked.
+ Slender or sometimes stout cylindrical plants, branching at base: Lower Californian.
brandegei (3), setispinus (24), halei (25).
++ Depressed-globose to ovate and stout cylindrical.
++ Radials few (3 to 12) and rigid: Mexican.
Radials 3: centrals 3.alternatus (1)
Radials 7 or 8: tubercles 40 to 50 mm. long.longimamma (36).
Radials 10 to 12: tubercles 12 to 15 mm. long.gummiferus (8).
++++ Radials numerous (16 to 60), capillary or bristle-like.
Radials 15 to 30, slender but rigid (bristly). acanthophlegmus(2), densispinus (4), bispinus (14), rhodanthus (26), sulphureospinus (27), palmeri (29), pringlei (32).
Radials 30 to 60 or more, mostly capillary. tetrancistrus* (22), capillaris (28), texanus* (31), spaerotrichus (33).
***** Central spines more than one and but one of them hooked.
Radials 10 to 15.goodrichii* (16), setispinus (24).
Radials 15 to 30.pondii (17), grahami* (19), bocasanus (20).
Radials 30 to 60.tetrancistrus (22).
****** Central spines more than one, and more then one of themhooked.
Radials 8 to 12.wrightii* (15).
Radials 30 to 60.tetrancistrus (22).
II. Tubercles with a more or less prominent groove.
* Central spines none.
+ Radials whitish and rigid, oppressed (pectinate) andinterwoven with adjacent clusters.
Depressed-globose and simple.compactus (44).
Globose and simple.radians* (45), corniferus (47).
Cespitose.pectenoides (46), sulcatus* (49).
++ Radials more slender and spreading.
Radials 10 to 17.missouriensis* (37), similis* (38), macromeris* (64).
Radials 30 to 50, capillary.dasyacanthus* (51).
** Central spine solitary, not hooked.
+ Central spine porrect.
Radials 6 to 17.missouriensis* (37), robustior* (39), scheerii* (40).
Radials 30 to 50, white and capillary.dasyacanthus* (51).
++ Central spine curved downwards.
Radials 8 to 12.sulcatus* (49).
Radials 12 to 26.robustispinus (41), recurvatus (42), corniferus (47),scolymoides* (48).
+++ Central spine erect: Mexican.
Radials 7 or 8: central 50 mm. long.salm-dyckianus (43).
Radials 10 or 11: central 25 to 35 mm. long.maculatus (52).
Radials 13 to 16.compactus (44).
*** Central spine solitary and hooked.
brunneus (53).
**** Central spines more than one and none of them hooked.
Centrals 2: radials 6 to 20.scheerii* (40), robustispinus (41), recurvatus (42),scolymoides* (48).
Centrals 3: radials 6 to 40.scheerii* (40), scolymoides* (48), echinus* (50),conoideus (54), neo-mexicanus* (59), arizonicus* (60).
Centrals 4 or 5: radials 6 to 40. scheerii* (40), scolymoides* (48), echinus* (50), conoideus (54), tuberculosus* (56), viviparus* (57), radiosus* (58), neo-mexicanus* (59). arizonicus* (60), macromeris* (64).
Centrals 6 or 7: radials 12 to 40. potsii* (55), tuberculosus*(56), viviparus* (57), neo-mexicanus* (59), arizonicus* (60), chloranthus (62).
Centrals 8 to 14: radials 12 to 40 or more. potsii* (55), tuberculosus* (56), viviparus* (57), neo-mexicanus* (59), deserti* (61), chloranthus* (62), alversoni* (63).
It is only possible to deal with the forms that occur within the borders of the United States, as even individual stations of common Mexican forms are little if at all known. These United States forms represent a northern extension of an abundant Mexican display. The group EUMAMILLARIA, containing twelve of the thirty-one forms defined as occurring north of the Rio Grande, makes the feeblest extension northward, at no place being found far from the boundary, and all the twelve are Mexican forms which extend but slightly into the United States. Only five of the forms are found east of the Pecos: heyderi, the most widely distributed EUMAMILLARIA, extending from the southeastern border of Texas westward along the whole Mexican boundary except in California; hemisphaericus, extending through southern Texas and southern New Mexico; meiacanthus, also along the Mexican border of Texas and New Mexico; texanus, a low ground form of the Rio Grande Valley, extending from the mouth of the river to El Paso, and suggesting a connection with the West Indian stellatus; and sphaericus, another low ground valley form of similar range, but apparently only extending up the Rio Grande to the region of Eagle Pass.
The Pecos forms the eastern boundary of five other EUMAMILLARIA forms: micromeris, extending northward from Coahuila and Chihuahua, apparently only in the mountains between the Pecos and El Paso; wrightii, of similar narrow northward extension, but ranging further northward on the high plains of the Upper Pecos in New Mexico; denudatus, also with a narrow northward extension west of the Pecos; lasiacanthus, extending from Chihuahua with a northern limit between the Pecos and Arizona; and grahami, a Sonoran type which has spread between the Pecos and southeastern California.
The ten preceding forms have evidently entered our borders from the highlands of Sonora and Chihuahua, with the exception of the Rio Grande Valley forms, texanus and sphaericus. Another species, tetrancistrus, is also a Sonoran type which has reached the eastern slopes of the mountains of southeastern California, and extended through western Arizona to southern Nevada and southern Utah, the most extended northern range of any EUMAMILLARIA. The twelfth form, goodrichii, is Lower Californian, and extends into California only in San Diego County. A summarized statement of the distribution of our twelve EUMAMILLARIA would be that two of them have extended from the low grounds of Coahuila and Chihuahua and spread along the valley of the Rio Grande; nine have come from the high grounds of Chihuahua and Sonora, four of which have extended eastward to the low levels of southeastern Texas; four have kept to the highlands west of the Pecos, and one has kept to the Colorado Valley and its tributaries, while one has a short northern extension from Lower California.
The nineteen forms of CORYPHANTHA are decidedly more northern in their distribution, and are our characteristic representatives of the genus Cactus. Ten of these, however, are but northern extensions of Mexican forms, and six of the ten have simply that tongue-like northern extension in the mountains between the Pecos and the Upper Rio Grande (above. El Paso), viz.: dasyacanthus, tuberculosus, scheerii (which has also spread somewhat east of the Pecos), and the three pectinate and closely related forms radians, echinus, and scolymoides. Of the four remaining Mexican forms, macromeris is a low ground Rio Grande Valley form, extending from above El Paso well towards the Lower Rio Grande; potsii just crosses the border in the neighborhood of Laredo; and radiosus and neo-mexicanus have by far the greatest northern extension, stretching from Sonora and Chihuahua to southern Utah and central Colorado, and eastward to the Guadalupe River of Texas.
The nine remaining coryphanths are distinctly forms of the United States, occupying two well-marked regions, viz.: the northern plains, and the desert region of western Arizona and adjacent California, Nevada, and Utah. In the former region is found the widespread viviparus, which extends from the southern borders of British America to the plains of eastern Colorado and western Kansas, and even crosses the Rocky Mountain divide into northern Idaho and northeastern Washington; and missouriensis, which also ranges from the high prairies of the Upper Missouri to the same southern limit, and is continued southward into Texas in its varieties similis and robustior.
In the Arizona desert region, four distinct but closely allied forms have become differentiated from the strong radiosus stock, viz.: arizonicus, deserti, alversoni, and chloranthus, all of which might be regarded as distinct species. In southeastern Texas is found an isolated form, sulcatus, occurring between the Brazos and Nueces rivers. That viviparus must be regarded as a strong northern extension of the radiosus stock can not be doubted, as the low depressed cespitose northern form seems to merge southward so gradually into the simple more robust ovate to cylindrical forms of radiosus as to suggest the propriety of regarding them all as specifically identical.
The result of a closer inspection of the distribution of these nearly related forms is worthy of note. C. viviparus extends from British America and the Upper Missouri to eastern Colorado and western Kansas; neo-mexicanus (the form most nearly related to viviparus) extends from central Colorado and southern Utah into Mexico; at the southeastern edge of this range begins radiosus and extends eastward through southern Texas; from the western edge of neo-mexicanus the form arizonicus extends westward into southern California, touching chloranthus at its Utah limit, and at its California extension reaching alversoni and deserti, the latter of which extends northward into the desert region of southeastern California and adjacent Nevada. Taking this type as of Mexican origin, it seems to have entered the United States from Sonora and Chihuahua, and to have spread in three directions, viz.: eastward through southern Texas; westward and northwestward into southern California and southern, Utah; and northward to the head waters of the Missouri and British America, though we would limit the northern extension of the present specific type to central Colorado, and would regard the still more northern forms as of the same origin but entitled to specific rank.
2. ANHALONIUM Lem. Cact. Gen. Nov. (1839).
Depressed or flattened, simple, unarmed plants, covered with peculiar imbricated tubercles above and their scale-like remains below: tubercle with lower and upper parts very different; lower part comparatively thin and flat; upper exposed part triangular in outline and divergent, very thick and hard, the lower surface smooth and keeled, the upper surface plane or convex, smooth or tuberculate or variously fissured, with a broad wool-bearing groove or simply a more or less evident tomentulose apical areola: spine-bearing areola obsolete: flower-bearing areola at the summit of the lower peduncle-like portion of the very young tubercle (thus appearing axillary with reference to the exposed part of the tubercle) and bearing a dense penicellate tuft of long soft hairs which conceals the lower part of the flower and the entire fruit and persists about the apical region of the plant as matted and apparently axillary wool: ovary naked: seeds large, black, and tuberculate: embryo obovate, straight.
According to the present views concerning generic limitations in Cactaceae, Anhalonium must certainly be kept distinct from Mamillaria, and to such a view Dr. Engelmann had finally come. The generic distinction is based upon such characters as (1) the complete suppression of the spine-bearing areolae; (2) the strong differentiation of the tubercles into two very distinct regions; (3) the production of the flower at the apex of the basal or penduncle-like portion (which becomes flattened and expanded at maturity) of a very young tubercle; and (4) the large tuberculate seeds.
In the case of engelmanni the broad woolly groove of the upper portion of the tubercle expands below into the flower-bearing areola, but terminates blindly above just behind the sharp apex. In prismaticum and furfuraceum the groove is obliterated, but there usually remains a small (more or less tufted) areola and depression just behind the apex to mark its upper extremity. This apical areola therefore, does not represent a spine-bearing areola, but the closed upper extremity of a tubercle groove.
It seems evident that Anhalonium is a much modified Cactus, and that its affinity is with the coryphanths, through such a species as C. macromeris, in which the flower becomes extra-axillary. If in macromeris, with the flower standing well up on the tubercle, the portions of the tubercle above and below the flower should become very different from each other, the upper portion being so much modified as to cause the spine-bearing areola to be obliterated, the condition of things in Anhalonium would be obtained.
* Upper surface of tubercle with a broad and deep wool-bearing longitudinal groove which widens below.
1. Anhalonium engelmanni Lem. Cact 42 (1839).
Mamillaria fissurata Engelm. Syn. Cact. 270 (1856).Anhalonium fissuratum Engelm. Bot. Mex. Bound. 75 (1859).
Depressed globose or flat, top-shaped below and tapering into a thick root, 5 to 12 cm. in diameter: tubercles (upper portion) appressed-imbricate, 12 to 18 mm. long and about as wide at base, the upper surface convex and variously fissured (presenting an irregular warty appearance) even to the edges: flowers apparently central, about 2.5 cm. long and broad, shading from whitish to rose: fruit oval, pale green, about 10 mm. long: seeds 1.6 mm. long. (Ill. Bot. Mex. Bound. t. 16) Type unknown; but specimens of Wright, Bigelow, and Parry in Herb. Mo. Bot. Gard. are the basis of Engelmann's Mamillaria fissurata.
On limestone hills, in the "Great Bend" region of the Rio Grande in Texas, and southward into Coahuila. Fl. September-October.
Specimens examined: Texas (Wright of 1850; Bigelow of 1852;Parry, with no number or date; Lloyd of 1890; Evans of 1891;Briggs of 1892): also growing in Mo. Bot. Gard. 1893.
This species is very closely related to the Mexican A. kotchubeyi Lem. (A. sulcatum Salm-Dyck), but unfortunately no type of that species seems to be in existence, and Dr. Engelmann notes (Mex. Bound. Rep. 75) that "it seems no living or dead specimen is at present extant in Europe." Judging from the description, the upper surface of the tubercles in A. kotchubeyi, aside from the central furrow, is smooth; at least the margin is "very entire."
** Upper surface of tubercle not grooved, but usually with a tomentose pulvillus at the tip.
2. Anhalonium prismaticum Lem. Cact. 1 (1839).
Mamillaria prismatica Lem. Hort. Univ. i. 231 (1839).Cactus prismaticus Kuntze, Rev. Gen. Pl. 261 (1891).
Flat above, top-shaped below, 7.5 to 12.5 cm. in diameter: tubercles (upper portion) close]y imbricate but squarrose- spreading, sharply triangular-pyramidal and very acute (with a sharp cartilaginous tip, which usually disappears with age and leaves the older tubercles blunt or retuse), 18 to 25 mm. long and about as wide at base, the upper surface almost plane and smooth, except that it is more or less pulverulent and usually bears a small tomentose pulvillus (often evanescent later) just behind the claw-like tip: flowers rose-color: fruit elongated- oval and reddish. (Ill. Lem. Cact. t. 1.) Type unknown.
Referred to Mexico in general, but reported definitely only from San Luis Potosi. Undoubtedly found in Coahuila, and possibly crosses the Rio Grande in the region of the "Great Bend."
Specimens examined: San Luis Potosi (Eschanzier of 1891): Mexico in general (specimens from Coll. Salm-Dyck in 1858; Schott of 1858): also specimens cultivated in Mo. Bot. Gard. in 1881; also growing in same garden in 1893.
3. Anhalonium furfuraceum (Watson).
Mamillaria furfuracea Watson, Proc. Amer. Acad. xxv. 150 (1890).
Very closely related to prismaticum; but triangular portion of tubercle acuminate and shorter, having an irregularly mamillate upper surface, and the acumination ending abruptly in a cartilaginous depression containing a tomentose pulvillus: flowers 2.5 to 3 cm. long, white or pinkish, the sepals brownish. Type, Pringle 2580 in Gray Herb.
At Carneros Pass, Coahuila.
Specimens examined: Coahuila (Pringle 2580 of 1889).
The type of this species was not among the collections received from Cambridge, but a specimen of the same distribution from the National Herbarium shows tubercle dimensions different from those recorded in Dr. Watson's description. In that description the triangular terminal surface is said to be "about an inch broad by one-half inch," which is decidedly different from the equilateral surface of the tubercle of prismaticum. In the National Herbarium specimen of furfuraceum, however, of the same distribution, the surface is almost equilateral, measuring 15 mm. long by 18 mm. wide at base. Without the acuminate upper portion the breadth of the triangular portion would be about double its length. The lower rim of the cup-like depression which terminates the tubercle and contains the pulvillus is sometimes slightly prolonged into a tooth, which in prismaticum becomes the sharp tip of the tubercle. The "minutely furfuraceous-punctulate" character of the tubercle is common to all the species of Anhalonium I have seen, and simply represents the external openings of the remarkably long cuticular passageways to the stomata.
4. Anhalonium pulvilligerum Lem. Cact. (1839).
Anhalonium elongatum Salm-Dyck (1850).
This seems to be a third grooveless Mexican species. I have seen no specimens, but judge from the description that it differs from the two preceding species chiefly in its less crowded and more elongated tubercles (triangular portion 5 cm. long by 2.5 cm. broad at base), which are covered at apex with a tomentose pulvillus.
This curious genus is strictly Mexican, and, so far as at present recorded, is characteristic of Coahuila, but a single species (engelmanni) of the four or five known crossing the Rio Grande in the Great Bend.
3. LOPHOPHORA, gen. nov.
Depressed-globose, proliferous and cespitose, tuberculate-ribbed, unarmed plants: tubercles at first conical and bearing at summit a flower-bearing areola with a dense tuft or short pencil of compact erect hairs, when mature becoming broad and rounded (with the remnant of the penicellate tuft as a persistent pulvillus in a small central depression) and coalescing into broad convex vertical ribs: spine bearing areolae obsolete: flowers borne at the summit of nascent tubercles: ovary naked (that is free from scales, but often downy): fruit and seed unknown.
These forms have been variously referred to Anhalonium and Echinocactus, but seem to deserve generic distinction. They differ from Anhalonium in the entire suppression of the upper highly differentiated portion of the tubercle, in the broad and rounded development of the lower portion, and in the coalescence of the enlarged tubercles into broad vertical ribs. In fact, in young specimens, the plant appears almost smooth, with shallow furrows radiating from the depressed apex. The genus differs from Echinocactus in the suppression of the spine-bearing areolae, and the naked ovary. In the examination of developing tubercles the relation to Anhalonium is evident. In the latter genus the young tubercle bears on the summit of its pedicel-like lower portion the tufted flower-bearing areola the modified upper portion of the tubercle at that time appearing as a bract beneath the flower. In Lophophora there is the same condition of things, except that the bract-like upper portion is wanting. From this point of view it would appear that the differences between Lophophora and Echinocactus are intensified by the fact that the flower-bearing areola in the former genus is to be regarded as really lateral on a tubercle the upper part of which has disappeared. This genus occurs abundantly in southeastern Texas, extending southward into Mexico. Mrs. A. B. Nickels reports that the Indians use the plants in manufacturing an intoxicating drink, also for "breaking fevers," and that the tops cut off and dried are called "mescal buttons."
1. Lophophora williamsii (Lem).
Echinocactus williamsii Lem. Allg. Gart. Zeit. xiii. 385(1845).Anhalonium williamsii Lem. in Forst Handb. Cact. i. 233(1846).
Hemispherical, from a very thick root, often densely proliferous, transversely lined below by the remains of withered tubercles: ribs usually 8 (in young specimens often 6), very broad, gradually merging above into the distinct nascent tubercles which are crowned with somewhat delicate penicellate tufts, which become rather inconspicuous pulvilli on the ribs: flowers small, whitish to rose: stigmas 4. (Ill. Bot. Mag. t. 4296) Type unknown.
Along the Lower Rio Grande, Texas, and extending southward intoSan Luis Potosi and southern Mexico.