122 
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 em. 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 “ fox- 
tail cactus.” The decidedly pink flowers were sent by Mr. 8. B. Parish from speci- 
mens 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 em. 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¢m, 
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. (Jil. Cact. Mex. Bound. t. 14 and 15)—Type, Wis- 
lizenus 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): Cu1HUAHUA (Hvans 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 Coryphanths extends from the spine-bearing areola to the 
axil of the tubercle, where it expands into the flower-bearing areola. In C. macro- 
