372 
wavy and tuberculate-interrupted: radial spines 14 to 22, setaceous 
and white, more or less rigid, 12 to 14 mm. long (upper much shorter), 
radiantly interwoven with those of adjacent clusters and densely cov- 
ering the whole plant; central spines usually 4 (occasionally 1 to 3), 
grayish with dusky tips, faintly annulate, the lateral ones concave 
above, slightly longer than the terete lower one (which is sometimes 
wanting) and usually twice as long as the thin flat upper one: flowers 
and fruit unknown.—Type unknown. 
San Luis Potosi. 
Specimens examined: SAN Luts Potost (Hschanzier of 1891). 
Two forms appear in the Eschanzier collection: one with about 20 radials and 4 
centrals, of which the laterals are twice as long as the upper; the other with 14 
radials and 3 centrals (the lowest one wanting), of which the laterals are not twice 
as long as the upper. In the original wippermanni the radials are 18 to 22, and the 
centrals 1 to 3. 
36. Echinocactus coptonogonus major Salm, Cact. Hort. Dyck. 156 (1850). 
Depressed, from a large indurated naked napiform base, 10 to 15 cm. 
across the top: ribs 10 to 15, acute from a broad base, more or less 
transversely interrupted and sinuous: spines 3, annulate, very stout 
and erect from deeply sunken areole, reddish when young, becoming 
ashy gray; upper spine stoutest, erect and straight, or slightly eurved 
upward, flattened and keeled, and occasionally twisted, 4 to 5.5 em. 
long, the two laterals erect-divergent, straight, or slightly curved, terete 
above and somewhat quadrangular below, 2 to 3 em. long; all from an 
abruptly enlarged base: flowers not seen, but said to be small and 
white, with purplish median lines.—Type unknown. 
San Luis Potosi to southern Mexico. 
Specimens examined: SAN Luis Porost (Hschanzier of 1891): also 
specimen growing in Mo. Bot. Gard., 1893. 
The flat top of the plant seems covered with the stout, erect and interlocking 
sword-like spines, the central (and uppermost) one of each cluster of three being 
much the largest and rising perpendicularly. The spines rise from such deep-seated 
areolw that the acute rib below each areola projects between the two lateral spines 
like a blunt tooth. £. coptonogonus differs from the variety in its much smaller 
spines, which are five in number, the two lowest being very small and deflexed, 
++ ++ Ribs tuberculate-interrupted: spines dissimilar (one or more compressed). 
37. Echinocactus hystrichacanthus Lem. Cact. Gen. Nov. 17 (1839). 
Globose conical, very stout, 6 din. or more in diameter: ribs acute, 
repand and crenate: spines reddish-brown with golden tips, annulate; 
radials 8 to 10, radiant, unequal, subterete; centrals 4, the lowest por- 
rect, angular and very long: flowers and fruit unknown.—Type un- 
known. 
From Coahuila to Vera Cruz. 
Specimens examined: COAHUILA (Thurber of 1853; Poselger of 1855): 
VERA ORUZz (Poselger of 1851): also specimens cultivated in Hort. Bot. 
Berol. in 1869, 
