Tan. 6774. 
CEREUS PAUCISPINUS. 
Native of New Mezico. 
Nat. Ord. Cactem.—Tribe Ecuinocactex. 
Genus Cereus, Haworth; (Benth, et Hook. f. Gen. Pl. vol.i. p- 849.) 
Cereus (Echinocactus) paucispinus; humilis, crassus, ovoideus v. ovoideo-cylin- 
draceus, perviridis, caule simplici v. parce ramoso sepe deforme, costis 5-7 
magnis latis interruptis, sulcis sursum acutis, mamillis subhemisphericis discretis 
v. subconfluentibus levibus, areolis spinigeris remotis, aculeis 3-7 robustis 
basi tuberosis radiantibus subrecurvis pallide rufo-fuscis v. brunneis demum 
nigrescentibus, centrali sepissime v. rarius robusto subangulato atro-fusco 
sursum verso seu porrecto, floribus sub vertice laterilibus 24-3 poll. diam., 
ovarii pulvillis 10-15 aculeolis 6-10 instructis, sepalis inferioribus triangulari- 
lanceolatis aculeiferis_superioribus linearibus, pctalis ad 30 erecto-patulis 
-spathulatis apice rotundatis integris fusco-coccineis concavis, filamentis elongatis, 
antheris parvis purpureis, stigmatibus 8-10 erectis viridibus. 
C. paucispinus, Engelm. Cact. U. 8. Mex. Bound. Surv. p. 37, t. 56. 
This plant was very imperfectly known at the date of its 
first publication by Dr. Engelmann, whose materials for the 
description and plate of it appear to have been very poor; 
nor should I have recognized it from the latter but for 
Mr. Loder, who sent it under what is no doubt its proper 
name. It is a native of the region bordering Mexico in 
the United States. Dr. Engelmann remarks that it grows 
on rocks and gravelly limestone hills, from the San Pedro 
to the mouth of the Pecos river, where it takes the place of 
the more western C. polyacanthus, which further east is 
represented by C. Remeri, and further west by C. pheniceus, 
from all which it is distinguished by the few ribs and few 
dark spines. _ 
The Royal Gardens are indebted to E. G. Loder, Esq, 
for the specimen here figured, which flowered in May of 
the present year. Like most of the extra-tropical North 
American species of Cacti, it may be successfully cultivated 
in the climate of Surrey in a frame in the open air, where, 
however, attention must be paid to watering at the proper 
season only. 
SEPTEMBER Ist, 1884, 
