half an inch distant, orbicular, tomentose when young. 
Spines slightly bulbous at the base, the radial seven to 
eight unequal, more or less interwoven, three-quarters of 
an inch to one anda half inches long, the central one single, 
one and three-quarters of an inch to two inches long, all 
sub-terete, and more or less curved, pale greyish. Flowers 
produced near the apex of the stems, about two inches 
long, and one and a half inches in diam., bright reddish- 
scarlet. Calyz-tube bearing about eighteen to twenty 
small pulvilli, with two to six short, bristle-like, ascending 
- spines to each. Sepals oblong, obtuse. Petals oblong- 
obovate, obtuse, entire, closely placed. Stamens nearly 
as long as the petals, purple-mauve. Stigmas seven to 
eight, radiating, green.— NV. LH, Brown. 
Fig. 1, a tuft of spines, of the natural size. 
