The species here figured, 7. splendens, extends westwards 
from N.W. Texas through New Mexico and Arizona to 
Southern California, thence sonthwards to Lower California 
and the Mexican states of Coahuila, Chihuahua and Sonora. 
In the northern part of this area the plant_is variously 
known as the Coach Whip, the Vine Cactus, Jacob's Staff; 
its Mexican name is the Ocotello. The bark contains a 
gum and a resin, and yields, in addition, the substance 
known as Ocotello Wax. It makes an effective and almost 
impenetrable hedge, and, according to Dewey, it is some- 
times planted closely in line around a rectangle 10 ft. long 
and 5 across; an opening is left at one end, a covering 
of brush is laid on top, and the result is a hut such us 
Mexican families of the poorest class inhabit. 
The material from which our figure has been prepared 
was communicated by Mr. F. W. Moore from a specimen in 
the Glasnevin collection. That plant is about 3 ft. in 
height, sparingly branched and strongly armed with stout 
thorns, The few roots are strong and woody ; the small, 
thin and delicate leaves are deciduous; the indication there- 
fore is that the plant does not require much water or 4 
moist atmosphere. It thrives well and is vigorous at 
Glasnevin in the Cactus house, in partial shade, with a 
minimum night temperature of 50°-52° F.; it is grown in 
an 8-in. pot in loam, mixed with one-fifth finely broken pot- 
sherds and old mortar. In the growing season, March to 
October, it requires a fair amount of water, and has 
occasionally to be syringed ; during the dull winter months 
it needs very little water, and the atmosphere has to be 
kept dry so as to provide the marked period of rest which 
the plant demands, 
Descriprion.—Shrub, in a wild state 6-20 ft. high, 
sparingly branched from the base, branches up to 1 in. thick, 
nearly straight, armed with spines, channelled and covered 
with smooth, at first tawny, at length ash-grey bark. 
Leaves of the long branches obovate- or oblanceolate-oblong; 
obtuse or subacute, narrowed at the base to a very short 
Ser #-1f in. long, 3-5 lin. wide; those of the short 
ranchlets fascicled and smaller, their petioles and midribs 
ultimately hardening into long spreading persistent spines 
3—l in. long. Inflorescences usually terminal, casually one 
