REDISCOVERY OF CEREUS NUDIFLORUS. 
By J. N. Rose. 
About 1854 Charles Wright collected in Cuba a tree cactus which 
Dr. George Engelmann described in 1869 as Cereus nudiflorus. Since 
its publication, so far as I can learn, this species has not until re- 
cently been re-collected, and has received very little further notice. 
Engelmann himself published nothing additional upon it, and the 
name fails to appear at all in the index to his “ Botanical Works.” 
The name is also entirely overlooked by the “ Kew Index.”  Schu- 
mann, in his * Monograph of the Cactaceae,” merely refers the species 
to Cereus lepidotus. Material lately collected, however, places the 
species in full light and vindicates its claims to independent standing. 
In the spring of 1907 Mr. William R. Maxon was detailed by the U.S. 
National Museum to carry on botanical explorations in eastern Cuba, 
with verbal instructions to pay especial attention to the Cactaceae. 
This work was carried on with much enthusiasm and thoroughness, 
and one of the results was the collection of a fine series of speci- 
mens of Cereus nudiforus. A number of cuttings were sent to Wash- 
ington, but these unfortunately rotted during shipment. 
Flowers were preserved in alcohol, however, good herbarium speci- 
mens were obtained, and arrangements were made for obtaining 
additional material and photographs. Soon after Mr. Maxon’s return 
Mr. Theodore’ Brooks, of Guantanamo, sent him a photograph of an 
old tree taken in the winter of 1888-1889 near Novaliches not far from 
Cafos. Unfortunately this photograph is too much faded to admit 
of reproduction. It is of interest as showing not only the tree, which 
is a very large one, but the figure of Baron Eggers standing near it. 
The species is thus shown to have been known to Baron Eggers, but 
whether or not he actually collected specimens I do not know. Again 
in August, 1906, Mr. Brooks sent two negatives and two prints of a 
tree 8 meters high, in fruit, found at Los Canos. One of the prints 
is here reproduced. He also sent, in sections, two mature fruits, one 
of which has been reconstructed and photographed for reproduction 
here. This seems to be the first time the fruit has ever been preserved 
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