OPUNTIA. 



83 



Fig. 96. — Opuntia vilis. 



53. Opuntia bulbispina Engelmann, Proc. Amer. Acad. 3: 304. 1856. 



Stems low, forming wide-spreading clumps 6 to 12 dm. broad; joints ovoid in outline, 2 tu 2.5 

 cm. long by 10 to 12 mm. in diameter; tubercles prominent, 6 to 8 mm. long; radial spines 8 to 12, 

 acicular, 3 to 6 mm. long; central spines 4, much stouter than the radials, 8 to 12 mm. long, bulbose 

 at base; flower and fruit not described in original description and as yet unknown. 



Type localit 

 , Mexico. 

 Distribution 



Near Perros 



Mexico 



The 



Josiali 



Gregg in 1848 and it has not with certainty been found 



from 



time 



7 — ~ — X — — - - 



but doubtless erroneously, 

 certain plants collected by Dr. Palmer in Chihuahua 

 were to be thus referred. It is possible that specimens 

 collected by Dr. Chaffey near Lerdo, Durango, may be 

 referred here, as they have the short joints of this 



much 



cm 



The type is deposited in 



the Engelmann Herbarium at St. Louis, and although 

 the material is poor, it may yet serve to clear up this 



species definitely. 



As stated by Coulter, this species has been re- 



same as 0. tunicata, a plant to which 



very remo 



Cact. Mex 



om 



Opuntia grahamii 

 1856. 



Fig. 97. — Opuntia bulbispina. 



Roots at first thick and fleshy, becoming woody. 2 cm. thick or ^ore ; ^^^nUo.. ^J ^ J^'-^^^^^'^/J: 

 spreading, forming low mounds often half buried in the sand, ^«"^^. 1"!^^^^ ^^^^ off ["«^^ ^^ ^.^^^^ ^^^^^ 

 oles; terminal joints erect, clavate, bright green 3 to 5 cm long. ^^^^^^^J^^^J^Se oWong^^^^^^^^^ ka^c 



thick, bronze-colored, ovate, acute, 3 to 4 mm. long; areoles about 3. "l^; X^' l^^ 

 8 to 15, slender, slightly scabrous, terete or some of the larger °°^^^^ jf \^ ^ J^'Pf ^^^^ 

 young, soon reddish, the longest 3-5 to 6 cm. long; glochids numerous, slender, 4 mm. long or less. 



