131 
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 rem- 
nant of the penicellate tuft as a persistent pulvillus in a small central 
depression) and coalescing into broad convex vertical ribs: spine- 
bearing areole 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 sup- 
pression of the upper highly differentiated portion of the tubercle, in the broad and 
rounded development of the lower portion, and m 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 areola, 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 pedi- 
cel-like lower portion the tufted flower-bearing areola, the modified upper portion 
of the tubercle at that time appearing asa 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 williamsit Lem. Allg. Gart. Zeit. x11. 385 (1845), 
Anhalonium williamsit 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 some- 
what delicate pencillate tufts, which become rather inconspicuous pul- 
villi 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 into 
San Luis Potosi and southern Mexico. 
Specimens examined: Texas (Mrs. Nickels of 1892): San LvIs 
Porost (Eschanzier of 1891): also growing in Mo, Bot. Gard. 1898. 
2. Lophophora williamsii lewinii (Hennings). 
Anhalonium lewinii Hennings, Gartenflora, 410 (1888). 
A much more robust form, with more numerous (usually 13) and 
hence narrower and more sinuous ribs, and much more prominent tufts. 
(Ill. Monats. Kakteenkunde, October, 1891)—Type unknown. 
