Tab. 4181. 



ECHINOCACTUS multiflorus. 



Many-jlowered Echinocactw. 



Nat. Ord. Cached. — Icosandria Monogynia. 

 Gen. Char. (Fide supra, Tab. 4124.) 



Echinocactus (§ Tuberculati) multiflorus ; depresso-globosus obscure viridis 

 subglaucus tubercidatus vix costatus, tuberculis magnis verticaliter oblongis 

 hemisphaerice prominentibus mamma3formibus demum confluentibus superne 

 m series subverticales irregulares dispositis, areolis ovalibus tomentosis, 

 aculeis 5 validis reflexo-patentibus recurvatis subappressis subsequalibus, flo- 

 ribus numerosis (pro plants ratione) magnis albidis. 



From the rich collection of Cactuses in the possession of Mr. 

 Palmer, of Stockwell, near London, who obligingly sent a speci- 

 men (the one here figured), to Kew, on the eve of its blos- 

 soming. Of its native country we are ignorant, and it does not 

 appear to be described ; but on this subject it behoves us to speak 

 with caution, for no plants are so difficult to define by words as 

 the individuals of this now extensive family : figures, alone, can 

 render the distinguishing characters of them intelligible. The 

 species is remarkable for the large tubercles, strong spreading 

 recurved and almost appressed spines, and for the copious pale, 

 almost white, flowers, tinged with greenish-brown. 



Descr. Our only specimen is of the size here represented, 

 globose, depressed at the top, green, slightly glaucous. Tubercle* 

 large, irregularly placed, upper ones only in an imperfect verti- 

 cal series, and those oblong or oval, very prominent, obscurely 

 angled. Areola oval, woolly ; bearing five nearly equal spines, 

 about an inch long, diverging, but not on all sides, two opposite 

 pairs laterally and the lower one towards the base of the plant ; 

 all are so much spread and decurved that they may almost be 

 said to be appressed strong, of a yellowish colour, purple at the 

 base. Mowers large (for the size w the plant), numerous, several 

 opening at one time, SO as to cover and conceal the upper surface 



UPTSMBBS I -I. 1" 



