Descr. Our largest specimen scarcely measures more 
than six inches across near the base, below which the plant 
is suddenly contracted, and above which it gradually be- 
comes smaller to the height of about four inches, whence 
the crown springs : so that the shape of this Metocactus is 
that of a depressed cone with rounded sides: and this is 
deeply cut into about ten broad furrows, forming as many 
prominent costz, the ridges and bottoms of the interstices 
forming moderately. acute angles: upon each of these 
ridges are about four or five clusters of spines, of from five 
to seven spines in a cluster, subulate, strong, spreading, 
straight, or but very slightly curved, of a pale brown, or 
ashen-green colour. At their base is a small, dense, woolly 
tuft or scar. From the summit is a short crown, scarcely 
three-fourths of an inch high, and about two inches and a 
half in diameter, of a woolly substance, filled with exserted, 
red aculei, very crowded. Fruzt,an oblong or rather club- 
shaped berry, about an inch long, of a delicate rose colour 
tipped with the withered flower : containing within several 
nearly globose, shining black, reticulated seeds. 
Fig. 1. Berry. 2. Vertical Section of the same. 8. Seed :—magnijied. 
