Part 4

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 New Mexico, 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), not Scheer (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 southern Mexico.

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 of Devil'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 Meade County): Oklahoma (Carleton 233 of 1891): Colorado (Hall and Harbour 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 (Reese River Valley).

Specimens examined: California (Parish 453 of 1880, also of 1882; Bailey of 1890): Nevada, Lincoln County (Coville & Funston of 1891, Death Valley Expedition): also specimens cultivated in Meehan'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.

ARTIFICIAL KEY TO THE SPECIES.

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).