Chapter 3

Cylindrical: tubercles crowded, glaucous, cylindrical (somewhat broadest above), about 4 mm. long, with dense axillary wool containing bristles: radial spines 25 to 30, very slender and white but rigid, about 5 mm. long, spreading or somewhat radiant, entangled with those of neighboring tubercles, and so covering the whole plant; central spines 3 to 5 (usually 4), more robust, erect or slightly divergent, brownish with darker tip, 7 to 8 mm. long: flowers small: fruit clavate and scarlet: seeds black and strongly pitted, 0.5 to 0.8 mm. in diameter. Type, Palmer 921 in U. S. Nat. Herb.

San Benito Island, off the west coast of lower California.

Specimens examined: Lower California, San Benito Island (Palmer 921 of 1889, reported as Mamillaria Goodrichii).

Very closely allied to C. capillaris of eastern Mexico.

30. Cactus stellatus Willd. Enum. Suppl. 30 (1813).

Cactus pusillus DC. Cat. Hort. Monsp. 184 (1813), not Haw. (1803). Mamillaria pusilla DC. Prod. iii. 459 (1828).

A very common West Indian species, apparently differing from the variety only in the very much fewer (12 to 20) radial spines, although numerous specimens, both dried and living, were examined for additional characters. This difference, however, is so constant and striking that, taken together with the wide geographical separation, it should stand as varietal.

31. Cactus stellatus texanus (Engelm.).

Mamillaria pusilla texana Engelm. Syn. Cact. 216 (1856). Mamillaria texana Young, Fl. Texas, 279 (1873).

Ovate-globose, 2.5 to 3 cm. in diameter, 2.5 to 6 cm. high, proliferous and at length cespitose: tubercles 7 to 9 mm. long, the long axillary wool intermixed with several coarse twisted bristles: radial spines very numerous, in many series, the outer ones (30 to 50) capillary, white, elongated and flexuous or crisped (12 to 16 mm, long when straightened), the inner ones (10 to 12) more rigid, shorter (6 to 8 mm.), puberulent, whitish or yellowish, usually dark-tipped; central spines 5 to 8, rigid, straight, pubescent, unequal, white below and reddish or dark above: flowers 1.5 to 2 cm. long, the yellowish-white petals with reddish median band: fruit 1.5 to 2 cm. long: seeds black and shining, conspicuously pitted, 1.2 mm. long. (Ill. Cact. Mex. Bound. t 5.) Type, Bigelow specimens in Herb. Mo. Bot. Gard.

From the mouth of the Rio Grande to El Paso, Tex., and southward into Coahuila and Chihuahua. Fl. March-May.

Specimens examined: Texas (Bigelow of 1853; Nealley of 1892): Coahuila (Bigelow of 1853): also growing in Mo. Bot. Gard. 1892 and 1893.

The exterior capillary spines cover the whole plant as with a coarse wool.

32. Cactus pringlei, sp. nov.

Globose (?), 5 cm. in diameter: tubercles short-conical, about 6 mm. long, with very woolly axils: radial spines 18 to 20, setaceous-bristly and radiant, 5 to 8 m in. long; central spines 5 to 7 (usually 6), stout and horny, more or less recurved, spreading, 20 to 25 mm. long; all straw-colored, but the centrals darker: flowers deep red (darker, even brownish, outside), 8 to 10 mm. long: fruit unknown. Type, Pringle of 1891 in Herb. Gray.

San Luis Potosi.

Specimens examined: San Luis Potosi (Pringle of 1891).

Evidently a member of the Chrysacantha group and near C. rhodanthus sulphureospinus, but differs in the much shorter tubercles, straw-colored spines, shorter radials, much longer centrals, and smaller darker flowers.

33. Cactus sphaerotrichus (Lem.) Kuntze, Rev. Gen. Pl. 261 (1891).

Mamillaria sphaerotricha Lem. Cact. 33 (1839).

Depressed-globose: tubercles cylindrical, obtuse, with some axillary bristles: radial spines very much crowded, exceedingly numerous, radiant, very slender and bristle-like, white; central spines 6 to 10 and even more, erect and more rigid: flowers pale reddish: fruit unknown. Type unknown.

Referred to Mexico in general, but reported only from San Luis Potosi.

Specimens examined: Mexican specimens from Hort. Dyck in 1857; from Hort. Pfersdorff in 1869; and growing in Mo. Bot. Gard. 1893 (from material sent by Pringle from San Luis Potosi).

++ The single central spine shorter than the radials (in C. longimamma centrals often more than one and somewhat longer).

34. Cactus gabbli, sp. nov.

Mamillaria gabbii Engelm Mss.

Globose, 5 to 10 cm. in diameter, simple: tubercles cylindrical, slender, 12 to 14 mm. long, with woolly axils: radial spines about 13, 5 to 8 mm. long, lower ones longer and stouter, especially the lateral ones pectinate; the central shorter, straight, and robust: flowers small, yellowish-red: fruit unknown. Type in Herb. Mo. Bot. Gard.

Among rocks, from San Ignacio to Mission San Fernando, Lower California, and "perhaps farther north in the interior."

Specimens examined: Lower California (W. M. Gabb 19 of 1867).

35. Cactus sphaericus (Dietr.) Kuntze, Rev. Gen Pl. 261 (1891).

Mamillaria sphaerica Dietr. Allg. Gart. Zeit xxi. 94 (1853).

Obovate or clavate, 5 cm. or more high, proliferous and at length densely cespitose: tubercles elongated-ovate, acutish, 12 to 10 mm. long with axillary wool: radial spines 12 to 14, setaceous, 7 to 9 mm. long, bulbous at base, straight or curved, white; central spine straight, subulate, somewhat shorter, but scarcely stouter: flowers yellow, 3.5 to 5 cm. long: fruit unknown. Type unknown.

Sandy ridges in the valley of the Rio Grande (both sides of the river), from the mouth to Eagle Pass. Fl. from March throughout the season.

Specimens examined: Texas (Schott of 1852): also specimens cultivated in St. Louis in 1845 and 1861.

Dietrich's description was taken from plants collected by Poselger at Corpus Christi. The Schott specimens are from Eagle Pass. Dr. Engelmann calls attention to the fact that this species approaches Coryphantha in its exserted ovary and large flower, but the flowers are clearly from the growth of the preceding season. The species is said to be too near the Mexican C. longimamma of central and southern Mexico, but in the absence of type specimens of either the question can not be settled. The usual characterization of C. longimamma is as follows, which seems to make it distinct enough:

36. Cactus longimamma (DC.) Kuntze, Rev. Gen. Pl. 260 (1891).

Mamillaria longimamma DC. Rev. Cact. 113 (1829).

Ovate or at length cylindrical, simple or cespitose: tubercles oblong-ovate, large at base, 4 to 5 cm. long: radial spines 7 or 8, radiant and equal, 8 to 10 mm. long or more, more or less pubescent; central spines 1 to 3, somewhat longer and spreading: flower 4 cm. long, becoming 6 cm. broad when fully expanded, yellow. (Ill. DC. Mem. Cact. t. 5.)

II. CORYPHANTHA. Flowers from the base of a groove on young or nascent tubercles (hence appearing terminal), mostly large: spines never hooked (except in the doubtful C. brunneus).

* Flowers yellow. + The originally central flowers pushed aside by the continuous development of new tubercles: usually a single prominent central spine.

37. Cactus missouriensis (Sweet) Kuntze, Rev. Gen. Pl. 259 (1891).

Cactus mamillaris Nutt. Gen. i. 295 (1818), not Linn. (1753). Mamillaria missouriensis Sweet, Hort. Brit. 171 (1827). Mamillaria simplex Torr. & Gray, Fl. N. Am. i. 553 (1840). Mamillaria nuttallii Engelm. Pl. Fendl. 49 (1849). Mamillaria notesteinii Britton, Bull. Torr. Bot. Club, xviii, 367 (1891).

Globose, 3.5 cm. in diameter, simple or nearly so: tubercles ovate-cylindrical, 12 to 14 mm. long, slightly grooved: radial spines 13 to 17, straight, whitish, setaceous, somewhat unequal, 8 to 10 mm. long; central spine more robust, straight and porrect, puberulent, 10 to 12 mm. long, often wanting: flowers about 2.5 cm. long, yellow or reddish: stigmas 2 to 5: fruit globose, scarlet, 6 to 8 mm. in diameter: seeds globose, black and pitted, 0.8 to 1.1 mm. in diameter. (Ill. Cact. Mex. Bound. t. 74., f. 6, seeds.) Type unknown.

High prairies of the Upper Missouri, from Montana to South Dakota and southward through western Nebraska to western Kansas and the eastern slopes of the mountains of Colorado. Fl. May.

Specimens examined: Montana (Notestein of 1893): National Park (Tweedy 423): South Dakota, (collector unknown, in 1847, 1848, 1853): Nebraska (Hayden of 1855).

38. Cactus missouriensis similis (Engelm.).

Mamillaria similis Engelm. Pl. Lindh. 246 (1845). Mamillaria nuttallii caespitosa Engelm. Syn. Cact. 265 (1856).

Mamillaria missouriensis caespitosa Watson, Bibl. Index, 403 (1878).

Cespitose, with 12 to 15 puberulent radial spines, the central very often wanting, larger flowers (2.5 to 5 cm. long), fruit and seeds (1.6 to 2.2 mm. in diameter), and 5 stigmas. (Ill. Cact. Mex. Bound. t. 74. f 7, seeds) Type, Lindheimer, of 1845 (?) in Herb. Mo. Bot. Gard.

From the Kansas River, Kansas, and eastern Colorado, southward through Oklahoma to the San Antonio River, Texas.

Specimens examined: Colorado (Greene of 1870): Kansas (Carleton 551 of 1891, from Kingman County, distributed as Mamillaria dasyacantha): Oklahoma (Carleton 120 of 1891): Texas (Lindheimer of 1845, 1850; Wright of 1850; Reverchon 725): also specimens cultivated in Goebel's Garden in 1846; and in St. Louis in 1846, 1847, 1851.

The cespitose masses are often a foot broad.

39. Cactus missouriensis robustior (Engelm.).

Mamillaria similis robustior Engelm. Pl. Lindh. 200 (1850). Mamillaria nuttallii robustior Engelm. and Bigel. Pacif. R. Rep. iv. 28 (1856). Mamillaria missouriensis robustior Watson, Bibl. Index, 440 (1878).

Almost simple, with longer aid looser tubercles, 10 to 12 stouter radial spines (6 to 16 mm. long), a single stout central, larger flowers, and 7 or 8 stigmas. Type, Lindheimer of 1845 in Herb. Mo. Bot. Gard.

From southeastern Colorado and the Canadian River (Oklahoma and Indian Territory), to the Colorado River of Texas.

Specimens examined: Texas (Lindheimer of 1845, 1846; Bigelow of 1853): also specimens cultivated in St. Louis in 1847.

In Bigelow's specimens the central spine is mostly lacking.

40. Cactus scheerii (Muhlenpf.) Kuntze, Rev. Gen. Pl. 261 (1891).

Mamillaria scheerii Muhlenpf. Allg. Gart. Zeit. xv. 97 (1847). Mamillaria scheerii valida Engelm. Syn. Cact. 265 (1856).

Ovate-globose, 7.5 to 17.5 cm. high, 7.5 to 12.5 cm. in diameter, simple or sparingly proliferous at base: tubercles large (2.5 to 3.5 cm. long), from a broad base and suddenly contracted and almost cylindric (10 to 14 mm. in diameter), deeply grooved (1 to 5 orbicular glands in the groove), distant, spreading and ascending, the lower ones shorter, more conical and somewhat imbricated, with broad axils and the younger densely woolly: radial spines 6 to 16, straight or slightly curved, stout, rigid, bulbous at base, whitish or yellowish (sometimes reddish) with dark tip, the 2 to 5 lower and lateral ones stouter and compressed (18 to 30 mm. long), the 4 to 11 upper ones weaker and terete (10 to 20 mm. long); central spines 1 to 5, stout and angled, 20 to 36 mm. long,,mostly yellow (sometimes reddish), a single one very stout and porrect: flowers 5 cm. long, yellow (sometimes reddish tinged): fruit ovate or subglobose, green: seeds large (3 mm. long), flat and obovate, red. Type unknown; that of the old var. valida is the Wright material in Herb. Mo. Bot. Gard.

Sandy ridges, southwestern Texas, from Eagle Pass and head of the Limpia to El Paso, and southward into Chihuahua, Coahuila, and San Luis Potosi; also southern Mexico (fide Hemsley). Fl. July.

Specimens examined: Texas (Wright 416, 478, of 1851, 1852; Evans of 1891): San Luis Potosi (Eschanzier of 1891).

The var. valida was described by Dr. Engelmann without having seen C. scheerii, the only knowledge of that species being obtained from the description of Prince Salm-Dyck in Cact. Hort. Dyck., which seemed to indicate a smaller form, with fewer spines than the Texan form. However, when visiting the collections of Prince Salm-Dyck, Dr. Engelmann found original specimens of C. scheerii which were exactly his var. valida. So far as collections show the Texan form seems to be more robust than the Mexican, but the material is too scanty to justify such a generalization. Dr. Engelmann speaks of this species as "a stately plant, by far the largest, of the northern Mamillariae" Its tubercles are bright green and in beautiful contrast with the showy yellow spines.

41. Cactus robustispinus (Schott) Kuntze, Rev. Gen. Pl. 261 (1891).

Mamillaria robustispina Schott in Engelm. Syn. Cact. 265 (1856).

A large stout plant, simple or cespitose: tubercles large, subterete, nearly 2.5 cm. long (and about the same distance from each other): radial spines 12 to 15, stout and rigid, 18 to 30 mm. long, the lower ones the stouter, more dusky, straight or often curved downwards, the upper straight and fascicled; the solitary central spine stout, compressed, curved downwards (occasionally an additional straighter upper one), not much longer than the radials, the base nearly 2 mm. wide; all the spines horny and black-tipped; flowers 3.5 to 5 cm. long with very slender and constricted tube, saffron-yellow: fruit green seeds large (3 to 3.2 mm, long and 2 mm. in diameter), obliquely obovate and curved, smooth and brownish. (Ill. Cact. Mex. Bound. t. 74. fig. 8, seeds) Type, Schott specimens in Herb. Mo. Bot. Gard.

"On grassy prairies on the south side of the Babuquibari Mountains," Sonora. Fl. July.

Specimens examined: Sonora (Schott of 1853-4).

Dr. Engelmann remarks that the seeds of this species are larger than those of any other Mamillaria known to him.

42. Cactus recurvatus (Engelm.) Kuntze Rev. Gen. Pl. 259 (1891).

Mamillaria recurvispina Engelm. Syn. Cact. 265 (1856), not Vries. Mamillaria recurvata Engelm. Trans. St. Louis Acad. ii. 202 (1863).

Globose or depressed-globose, 7.5 to 20 cm. in diameter, simple: tubercles ovate, deeply grooved, crowded, somewhat imbricate, 10 to 12 mm. long: radial spines 12 to 20, bulbous at base, compressed, rigid, recurved or flexuous, 8 to 18 mm. long, whitish or horny, interwoven with adjacent clusters; central spine solitary (sometimes an additional upper one), stouter and longer (12 to 20 mm.), dark, mostly strongly recurved and appressed (rarely straightish): flowers about 3.5 cm. long, yellow (brownish-tinged outside): fruit unknown. Type, Schott specimens in Herb. Mo. Bot. Gard.

From Sonora to southern Mexico. Fl. June-August.

Specimens examined: Sonora (Schott of 1855).

43. Cactus salm-dyckianus (Scheer) Kuntze. Rev. Gen. Pl. 261 (1891).

Mamillaria salm-dyckiana Scheer in Salm, Cact. Hort. Dyck. 134 (1850).

Subglobose: tubercles very broad and retuse, almost 2-parted by the tomentose groove, with axillary floccose wool: radial spines 7 or 8, very rigid, widely radiant, somewhat curved, 3 to 3.5 cm. long, in older tubercles 3 to 6 additional slender and straight or twisted spines; the solitary central spine very stout, erect, almost 5 cm. long: flowers and fruit unknown. Type: Scheer says that this plant, brought from Chihuahua by Potts, "unfortunately perished," and the description was drawn from fragments, which in those days were not apt to be preserved.

Chihuahua.

Specimens examined: Chihuahua ("Salm of 1857 ").

The specimen referred to is in Herb. Mo. Bot. Gard., and reveals no additional characters; nor can the label be interpreted, except that it indicates that the specimen is from plants cultivated successfully in the gardens of Prince Salm-Dyck.

++ Flower and fruit remaining central in the very woolly vertex of the plant. ++ Central spine solitary or wanting.

44. Cactus compactus (Engelm.) Kuntze Rev. Gen. Pl. 260 (1891).

Mamillaria compacta Engelm. Wisliz. Rep. 21 (1848).

Depressed-globose, 5 to 10 cm. in diameter, simple: tubercles short-conical, crowded, 8 mm. long: radial spines 13 to 16, rigid, recurved and appressed, interwoven with adjacent clusters, whitish or horny, 10 to 20 mm. long; the erect central spine often wanting: flowers 3 to 3.5 cm. long and broad, yellow (brownish without): fruit oval, green: seeds 1.4 mm. long, smooth and yellow. (Ill. Cact. Mex. Bound. t. 74. fig. 2, seeds) Type, Wislizenus of 1846 in Herb. Mo. Bot. Gard.

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 New Mexico, 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.).